CROATIAN RAILWAY WORKERS' UNION CALLS OFF STRIKE

ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - The Croatian Railway Workers' Trade Union (SZH), on Tuesday decided to call off the strike that had begun on November 28. The Union said it ended the strike, concerning a ruling of the Supreme Court which refused the Union's appeal and confirmed the December 9 ruling of the Supreme Court which said that the railmen's strike was unlawful. "The strike that began at 10:00 hrs on November 28, has been called off at 17:00 hrs on December 17, on the grounds of the Supreme Court rulings of December 9 and 17," said the Union in a statement. On December 9, a three-member panel of judges of the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the plaintiff, the Croatian Railways (HZ) management that sued workers over their non-compliance with a Transport Ministry decision on train services that should be maintained during the strike. The appellate tribunal of the Supreme Court said the appeal of the Union was groundless and explained that all the time of the strike the defendant had to comply with the Transport Minister's decision on maintenance of the minimum train services during a strike. (hina) mm mš 171810 MET dec 96