UNION LEADERS FAIL TO SHOW UP FOR MEETING WITH PREMIER MATESA

( Editorial: --> 2553 ) ZAGREB, Feb 17 (Hina) - The leaders of two Croatian trade union organisations did not accept Premier Zlatko Matesa'a invitation to a meeting which was to take place on Tuesday. Premier Matesa wanted union representatives to inform him in more detail about their requests and motives of the union protest rally announced for Friday, 20 February, in Zagreb, the Government communications office said in a statement Tuesday. "The behaviour of presidents of two union organisations obviously shows their lack of will for negotiations and agreement," said the Government communications office. The president of the Croatian Association of Trade Unions, Niko Gunjina, refused to attend the meeting saying he was busy, while the president of the Croatian Association of Workers' Unions, Boris Kunst, first accepted and then cancelled his arrival, the statement said, adding the Premier's intention was to gather union representatives and members of the Economic and Social Council (GSV) and Government "so that they could continue social dialogue". "Besides that, their refusal sheds a completely different light on the purpose and aim of the aforementioned rally, revealing its true character," the Government communications office said, without giving any details as to its interpretation of the rally's character. (hina) mm rm 171522 MET feb 98