INDEPENDENT TRADE UNIONS CRITICISE GOVERNMENT

OPATIJA, Dec 12 (Hina) - The president of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH), Davor Juric, said on Thursday the government had not fulfilled its pre-election promises and had in fact by-passed unions wherever it could. #L# The SSSH will in the future only support governments which do not adopt anti-workers laws and will only negotiate with those employees who respect collective agreements and do not humiliate workers, Juric said at an SSSH election congress in Opatija. The government is not adhering to signed agreements and is not implementing them, Jurcic said. It has shown that it will sign one thing while intending something else and doing something completely different, he added. He criticised the Croatian Employers' Association because, as he said, to this day it is not known whom it represents nor how many members it has. Juric also said that employers are quick to find a common language with the government concerning a law that decreases workers' rights. He assessed that the division on the union scene goes in favour of the government and employers. Later in the evening it is expected that Premier Racan will speak to the congress in Opatija. (hina) sp/ha sb