HIGH SCHOOL UNION ORGANISES A STRIKE FOR NOVEMBER 12

ZAGREB, Nov. 4 (Hina) - The independent union representing High Schools throughout Croatia is organising a one day strike in all High Schools on November 12. The strike will take place to protest against the government's pay out to teachers who did not participate in the recent teacher's strike. It is a sign of solidarity of all teachers who did take part in the recent strike, announced the union president Vesna Kanizaj. At the end of the last year's school semester, the school union organised a strike, the government counter-acted this by paying out a financial bonus to teachers who did not take part in the strike (known as the "pugelnica" due to the surname of the Education Minister, Pulgenik). This bonus has been paid out. The union has a right to organise the solidarity strike, according to the Collective Agreement and the Labour law, said Kanizaj. The remaining four school unions will decide on Thursday whether they will participate in the strike. They announced last week that they would strike on November 12 if the government did not meet their requests on beginning negotiations of selective salary increases in education. (Hina) ab/lml