ZAGREB, Nov 14 (Hina) - The government and unions from the public sector on Tuesday failed to reach an agreement on harmonising salaries of public officials and civil servants with those of employees in public companies. Seven unions
of public and civil services requested a ten per cent salary increase for November, founding their arguments on a collective agreement they had signed with the government in March. The government, however, is contesting the percentage of increase. A negotiating team for the unions suggested the basis for salaries be restored from the current 1,425 kuna (US$162.67) to the 1,500 kuna (US$171.23) it had amounted t before they agreed on a collective agreement decreasing the salary basis by five per cent. By the end of the year about 150 million kuna (US$17.12 million) from the government budget should be secured for this. The remaining amount, yet to be agreed on, would be pa
ZAGREB, Nov 14 (Hina) - The government and unions from the public
sector on Tuesday failed to reach an agreement on harmonising
salaries of public officials and civil servants with those of
employees in public companies.
Seven unions of public and civil services requested a ten per cent
salary increase for November, founding their arguments on a
collective agreement they had signed with the government in March.
The government, however, is contesting the percentage of
increase.
A negotiating team for the unions suggested the basis for salaries
be restored from the current 1,425 kuna (US$162.67) to the 1,500
kuna (US$171.23) it had amounted t before they agreed on a
collective agreement decreasing the salary basis by five per cent.
By the end of the year about 150 million kuna (US$17.12 million)
from the government budget should be secured for this.
The remaining amount, yet to be agreed on, would be paid in July of
next year as back-pay. president of the Croatian Teachers' Union,
Dalimir Kuba, said after Tuesday's round of talks.
The unions have also requested the payment of a Christmas bonus of
1,000 kuna and a 400 kuna bonus for children ($US114 and $45.6).
Because of the economic and social situation in the budget and
society, the government's negotiating committee could not decide
on the unions' requests, vice-premier Zeljka Antunovic said.
She announced the suggestions would be brought up at the next
government session n Thursday, after which negotiations would
continue.
The government has never contested its obligation to harmonise
salaries on collective agreements, but the degree of this
obligation is a moot point. The government and unions have
differing views on the increase percentage for salaries in the
public sector, Antunovic stressed.
(hina) lml