TALKS FAILED - STRIKE IN SPLIT SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY CONTINUES

SPLIT, Dec 17 (Hina) - The strike of 3,200 employees and 800 sub- contractors of the Split shipbuilding industry 'Brodosplit', which started on Thursday, resumed after Friday's meeting between union representatives, workers, 'Brodosplit' director, and Split County officials yielded no results. Unionists and the strikers' committee insisted in today's talks that they would not resume work until they received November salaries. In case their demand is not met, all workers will on December 23 go out into the streets and the union leadership speculate they could be joined by disgruntled workers from other Split companies. Split County Prefect Branimir Luksic said he had contacted numerous government officials, including Finance Minister Borislav Skegro, who said the Government had transferred the money to the 'Brodosplit' account, which caused an energetic response by the company's director Vinko Rosic, who presented evidence that the Government was not respecting the payment dynamics toward 'Brodosplit' and that it was the sole reason for the strike. Rosic also criticised the Government for transferring in the past months to the company's account only 34.4 out of 70 million kuna which should have been paid by the beginning of last month, adding he was embittered because the Government's did not respect its decision. There are many failures and problems at all levels in 'Brodogradnja' but workers are the least responsible for the current situation, Rosic said. (hina) rml