OPEN PROTEST LETTER TO VALENTIC FROM TEACHERS UNION

ZAGREB, Oct 7 (Hina) - The high school teachers' union accused Prime Minister Nikica Valentic of violating the general collective agreement because he docked teachers' wages during the strike period. You "unilaterally destroy" the general collective agreement's provision obliging the employer to bear the cost of a strike - a strike which was organised over the non-implementation of other parts of the agreement, the Union's open letter to Valentic says. Meanwhile the Croatian teachers' union today said in a statement that it would initiate charges in the constitutional court if teachers failed to receive full wages for September (including the strike period) by October 10. The two Unions want their dispute with the Government to be solved by arbitration, in line with the collective agreement. The Government was given until 1pm October 8 to respond. (hina) jas ks sd 072006 MET oct 94