UNION LEADER ANNOUNCES MORE DEMONSTRATIONS IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, Feb 29 (Hina) - The Association of Croatian Independent Trade Unions (SSSH) decided at a session Wednesday to continue protests after the government had failed to meet any of their damands. "A central demonstration with characteristics of a general strike" would be held in Zagreb around 20 March, SSSH officials told a press conference on Thursday. #L# A large-scale demonstration would be staged unless all the demands were fulfilled by 15 March, SSSH leader Dragutin Lesar announced. Workers from all over Croatia would participate in the protest, he added. Next week the SSSH would launch a drive, which Lesar described as "a kind of social referendum", to collect signatures of citizens supporting their demands. The signatures would then be sent to the government. The SSSH would also send a written invitation to Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa to meet for talks with union leaders by 15 March. The SSSH demanded the lowest average wage of 1,100 kunas (DM 300), a fairer tax system by introducing more taxation categories, an increase in the untaxable portion of wages to 1,100 kunas and regulation of workers' rights through collective agreements instead of government decrees. Additional demands were made at Wednesday's session, inlcuding demands for amending the Profit Tax Act and the Income Tax Act and auditing companies' balance sheets. Dissatisfied with coverage by Croatian Television of a SSSH protest on 21 February, the SSSH would launch an initiative for amending the Croatian Radio and Television Act to abolish the obligatory payment of television subscription. Should the iniciative fail, the SSSH would appeal for civil disobedience and call on its members to refuse paying the subscription. (hina) lm 291845 MET feb 96