METALWORKERS DEMONSTRATE IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Dec 15 (Hina)- More than 5,000 members of the Union of Croatian Metalworkers (SMH) demonstrated on Thursday in the Dom Sportova square in Zagreb over, as they put it, economic and social poverty, irregular payment of salaries, firings and the Government's incapacity to resolve those problems. For the situation in the metallurgy the Union blames the Government, owner of most metal-working companies that employ majority of Croatian metalworkers. According to the Union's statistics, since 1990 the number of employees in the metal industry has been reduced from 180,000 to less than 70,000. Sixty five companies, employing 12,500 persons, do not pay salaries on time and another 11 have announced that they will fire an additional 2,500 employees. The Union president Ivica Jakopcevic called on the Government to abort the plans for the downsizing of the companies within the next 45 days or resign. About 100 metalworkers made their way to the Government building around 9am on Tuesday. There they demonstrated for some time and then joined other demonstrators. Demonstrators have been backed by many metalworking companies, which staged solidarity work stoppages between 11am and 12am. (hina) mm mr