TEACHERS' UNIONS EXPECT GOVT TO COME ROUND

( Editorial: --> 2631 ) ZAGREB, June 20 (Hina) - The teachers' unions expect the Government to relent after yesterday's parliamentary debate on education and meet their requests for pay rise and an annual bonus, union leaders told a Zagreb press conference on Saturday. Meanwhile, the unions are continuing the strike. "After Finance Minister Skegro's statement that there are sufficient funds to meet the union requests, it is obvious that political will alone is needed to resolve the problem and that an agreement could be reached even today," union leader Dalimir Kuba said. "We are glad that Minister Skegro publicly confirmed what the unions already knew - that money is not the problem," union leader Vinko Filipovic said. The unions are hoping that the Government will come round soon so that the school year can be brought to an end. But if the Government sticks to its guns, the grassroots pressure is such that there is no question of giving up the strike, reporters heard. Meanwhile, a similar tone of contentment was heard at a separate press conference staged by the local Union of Employees in Education in Split. "If the Government is ready to sum up the general drift of yesterday's parliamentary debate in a proposal which could be discussed at the next parliamentary sitting on Wednesday, we could end the strike and speedily finish the remaining work in schools to the satisfaction of parents and students," union leader Marko Ruzic said. (hina) as 201410 MET jun 98