PUBLIC SERVICES' TRADE UNIONS ANNOUNCE PROTEST RALLY FOR 17 DEC.

ZAGREB, 13 Dec (Hina) - Representatives of six trade unions of education, science and social care announced a protest rally for 17 December in Zagreb. The decision to stage the protest rally was caused by a 'dramatic situation concerning salaries in education, science and social care' and an unjust attitude of the government toward the trade unions. According to the six trade unions, the government was not ready to enter a serious discussion on the price of labour in public services. In a referendum held this week, members of the six trade unions rejected a government offer to raise their salaries in 1997 and 1998. The public services' trade unions insist to negotiate with the government 'not about the state budget, but about the price of labour in public services'. 'We demand relative salaries and a social status as the one we had in 1993, the one employees in public companies, economy and local self-government have today', the trade unions' representatives said. Should the government ignore their request to continue negotiations, a general strike would be organized soon, members of the six trade unions said. (hina) rm jn 131722 MET dec 96