UNION SLAMS VICE PREMIER'S STATEMENTS

ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - The president of the Association of Workers' Trade Unions of Croatia (URSH), Boris Kunst, on Tuesday slammed statements Vice Premier Slavko Linic made in an interview with the Jutarnji List daily and demanded an urgent meeting between union leaders and Premier Ivica Racan. In an interview with Monday's issue of Jutarnji List, Linic announced changes to the Labour Act, which would introduce lower severance pays and shorter termination notices, without previous consultations with the unions. Kunst told reporters Linic obviously did not need cooperation with social partners because if he cooperated with them he would not be able to implement his "mediaeval" model of economy and turn workers "into slaves." A vice-premier who would make such statements in any normal democratic country would have to resign, Kunst said. Despite Linic's scandalous claims, URSH wants to build its partnership with the government and therefore demands an urgent meeting with Premier Racan. The meeting should be attended by the leaders of other union federations, Kunst said. He announced that the leaders of all five union federations would meet on Thursday to formulate their joint stand on Linic's claims before meeting Racan. If they do not reach a consensus on such an important issue as the announced restriction of workers' rights, union federations will divide into two blocs, one close to the authorities and the other one protecting workers' rights. Which of them is the right one will be decided by union members, Kunst said. (hina) sb rml