CROATIAN TRANSPORT MINISTER REJECTS REASONS FOR RAILMEN'S STRIKE

ZAGREB, Nov 26 (Hina) - The Croatian Ministry of Transport and the Croatian Government had fulfilled their commitments under the 1996 February agreement with the railways workers strike committee, and they could not accept reasons for a strike of railmen, announced for November 28, Transport Minister Zeljko Luzavec said on Tuesday. "I told the Croatian Railways (HZ) management to continue negotiations with those HZ trade unions that have announced the strike, although I don't know what should be negotiated as we have met our obligations, Minister Luzavec said. Tuesday's negotiations in Zagreb between Minister Luzavec and representatives of all nine HZ unions were unsuccessful, as the unions that called the strike, abode by their stance. "An average wage in the HZ company has reached a level of average wages in economy, what we pledged last February," Luzavec said. (hina) jn mš 262055 MET nov 96