SCHOOL UNIONS ASK MPS FOR SUPPORT

( Editorial: --> 1796 ) ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - The Croatian National Parliament's House of Representatives on Wednesday continued its 31st session with a debate on amendments to the Law on Banks and Savings Banks. The amendments include removal of the reciprocity principle for the establishment of new banks and branches and offices of foreign banks in Croatia. Removal of that principle is a condition for entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Following the end of this debate, representatives of the Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) requested that a debate on the school system be added to the session's agenda. Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic said that nothing can be put on the agenda without quorum or a majority-vote, after which the SDP bench requested a pause. Upon entering the Parliament building this morning, MPs were met by school union representatives who distributed leaflets outlining their requests. The unions request the promotion of all employees in primary and secondary schools by two wage levels and payment of holiday cash grants. Unions state in the leaflets that conditions for a selective approach to wage increases have been met since the Government has announced a revised budget amounting to $US1 billion while resources necessary for the implementation of school union requests amount to $US42 million. The unions organised a strike last week, after which the Government decided to end the school year a week earlier. On Tuesday school unions held a rally in Zagreb and on Wednesday they came to the Parliament asking MPs to support them. (hina) jn bag/rml 171416 MET jun 98