CRO TEACHERS RALLY IN ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 1627 ) ZAGREB, June 16 (Hina) - Several thousand primary and high school teachers from various parts of Croatia gathered at a protest rally in Zagreb on Tuesday. The rally was organised by two teachers' unions over the Government's refusal to increase salaries and pay an annual bonus. Not even a violent hailstorm which hit Zagreb around 1 pm, could daunt the protesters spoiling for vigorous industrial action. For seven months now, the teachers have been fighting for fair salaries in relation to other public servants, said Dalimir Kuba, leader of the Elementary School Teachers' Union. In April, the Government offered to increase teachers' salaries as soon as "conditions were ripe," Kuba recalled. "Conditions should be ripe now that the 1998 budget is being revised," Kuba said. Even though the government had tried to create divisions, the teachers' unions stand together and will keep insisting on their demands, said Vesna Kanizaj, leader of the Secondary School Teachers' Union. "We are fed up with the arrogance of those in power and the Government's neglect of education," Kanizaj said. Labour leader Vinko Filipovic said that the Government on 12 June "killed the Croatian school system" by ending the school year one week earlier. Several Opposition MPs joined the rally to express their support. Other Croatian unions and international union associations also supported the rally. After the rally, some of the protesters headed for the Government seat in the Upper Town but were stopped by a police blockade. Only union leaders were allowed through to attend talks with Education Minister Pugelnik. Minister Pugelnik showing up at the blockade a little later had a close encounter with protesters. They plastered union leaflets all over his car and chanted slogans calling for his resignation until he was rescued by police a few minutes later and allowed to proceed. (hina) jn as bag 161713 MET jun 98