CROATIAN RAIL WORKERS ANNOUNCE GENERAL STRIKE FOR NOVEMBER 28

ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - The Croatian Rail Workers' Union on Wednesday announced a general strike for November 28, calling for the signing of a collective agreement, respect for the rights of employees in line with the labour relations bylaws, resolution of housing problems and a long-term development plan for the Croatian Railways company. Union president Zlatko Pavletic told a news conference in Zagreb that rail unions had been conducting collective negotiations with the Croatian Railways management for seven months but that they had broken off on October 24 because of the management's view that it did not have authority to negotiate labour costs. "We have been demanding for four years that the government draw up a long-term transport policy plan, and now Croatian Railways doesn't have either a five-year plan or a plan for the next year," Pavletic said. Eight other rail unions would decide this week whether or not they would join the strike, he said. (hina) vm mm 201844 MET nov 96