CROATIAN METAL WORKERS ANNOUNCE PROTEST RALLIES

ZAGREB, Sept 9 (Hina) - The Croatian Metal Workers' Union (SMH) on Monday announced protest rallies across the country to draw public attention to "the disastrous position of metal workers, systematic destruction of companies and negligence of state institutions towards the metal industry." SMH president Ivica Jakopcevic told a news conference in Zagreb that SMH would no longer organize strikes in metal- manufacturing companies because they were counterproductive to workers. "Strikes only help the policy of devaluing companies in order to drive them into bankruptcy and buy them cheaply," he added. "At public rallies, the Union will alert the government not only to low wages and layoffs but also to the fact that the current economic policy leads to the destruction of domestic production and complete dependence on import," Jakovcic stressed. The Union supported a protest rally announced by the Croatian Homeland War Invalids (HVIDRA) for September 15 in Zagreb, and called on its membership and demobilized soldiers to join in the protest. (hina) vm jn 091710 MET sep 96