POST, TELECOMMUNICATION UNION AND IDS SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, Dec 3 (Hina) - The Croatian Post and telecommunications Union (HSPT) and the Istrian Democratic Assembly party (IDS) on Friday signed a cooperation agreement. In line with the agreement, the HSPT has committed itself to vote for the IDS and its coalition partners at the upcoming parliamentary elections, and in turn, the IDS would promote the interests of Union members in the parliament House of Representatives. The signing of the agreement marked the end of a negotiation cycle of parties of the Opposition Four with which cooperation agreements have been signed, while the signing of an agreement with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) coalition will be signed next week, HSPT president Jadranka Dumbovic said. The IDS will support the HSPT's request for an increase in the number of shares of the Croatian Telecommunications (HT) company intended for employees and former employees, so far being seven per cent. The party will also support the motion that HT employees buy stock before they are offered at a public bid, according to the agreement. The IDS has also committed to support the HSPT in efforts to sign a collective agreement with the HT which would prevent the dismissal of workers without an agreement with the Union in the next five years. IDS secretary-general Emil Soldatic said the IDS signed the agreement because it held some basic starting points for the work of the party, such as the standpoint that the property of public companies should be owned by those who created them, former and current employees. (hina) lml