ZAGREB, May 1 (Hina) - The leaders of Croatia's trade union federations said on Saturday, International Labour Day, that they will not allow new restrictions of workers' rights.
ZAGREB, May 1 (Hina) - The leaders of Croatia's trade union federations
said on Saturday, International Labour Day, that they will not allow
new restrictions of workers' rights.#L#
The federations celebrated May 1 in Zagreb's Maksimir park, in keeping
with a 114-year tradition, but this year separately. They issued,
however, a joint leaflet telling the government and parliament that
they will not allow new restrictions of workers' rights.
The Independent Croatian Trade Unions (NHS) marked the holiday
together with the Association of Workers' Trade Unions of Croatia
(URSH), while the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia
(SSSH) staged a separate celebration.
NHS leader Kresimir Sever said workers today enjoyed fewer rights than
a year ago and lived under increasingly harder conditions while
politicians, full of promises in pre-election time, cared only for
themselves as soon as they became members of parliament.
"Our patience has reached its limit. They will no longer humiliate and
intimidate us or revoke workers' rights," said URSH leader Boris
Kunst. He added politicians should not be intoxicated by the notion of
Europe, which he said would not solve Croatia's problems.
SSSH leader Vesna Dejanovic said everyone in Croatia was entitled to
live off their work, and that Croatia would not be able to enter the
European Union without labour.
The festivities in Maksimir park were attended by numerous citizens
and politicians, including President Stjepan Mesic and Deputy Prime
Minister Jadranka Kosor on behalf of the government.
Mesic wished that those who worked be paid and that those without a
job find one. He wished a happy Labour Day but in his capacity as a
citizen, not as a politician.
Kosor said people could live dignified lives if their salaries were
dignified. She vowed the government would do everything for Croatia to
be a socially just country.
Speaking in her capacity as chairwoman of the Economic and Social
Council, Kosor pledged the government would continue to work with
trade unions and employers in building social partnership, which she
said was the only way to increase employment.
(Hina) ha