GOVT EXPRESSES REGRET OVER FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH SECONDARY

SECONDARY $ SCHOOL EMPLOYEES' TRADE UNION ZAGREB, 14 Feb (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Friday issued a statement expressing regret over the failure of negotiations concerning the signing of a collective agreement for the Croatian secondary school system. According to the statement, the Government managed to reach a high level of understanding with most of the leading associations, trade unions and employers. The Government is drawing the attention of the Croatian public and especially of employees in secondary schools and pupils' dormitories to the fact that during their negotiations with representatives of the Independent Trade Union of Employees in Secondary Schools and Pupils' Halls of Residence, who were led by their president Vesna Kanizaj, Government representatives had the impression that Kanizaj, who was speaking on behalf of the Union, was conducting negotiations with an aim and purpose which remained unknown to Government representatives. Kanizaj surely radicalized each question in the negotiations, especially when there was a chance that the two sides might agree, the statement said. Kanizaj did not abide by her obligations from the Negotiations Rules of Procedure and she was giving contradictory statements, the Government statement said. The Government was ready for additional efforts with the aim to improve the status of employees in secondary schools and pupils' halls of residence, but it could not allow to be controlled by individual or group interests, the statement said. (hina) rm mm 141755 MET feb 97