CROATIAN METAL WORKERS STAGE PROTEST RALLY IN SPLIT

SPLIT, Nov 5 (Hina) - Croatian metal workers, joined by trade unions of pensioners and sailors, held a protest rally in the southern Adriatic port city of Split on Tuesday demanding unpaid wages and job protection. The Metal Workers' Union demanded, among other things, that the government "reveal the truth about the state of the Croatian metal industry and explain why many companies collapsed after ownership transformation and privatization," Union leader Ivica Jakopcevic told a gathering of about 350 protesters outside the Split County administration building. The protesters were greeted and supported by County prefect Kruno Peronja, who said that their demands were justified. Similar rallies have been recently staged in Slavonski Brod, Sisak, Karlovac and Rijeka. (hina) vm mm 051838 MET nov 96