ZAGREB, May 27, 2020 – Unions of employees in the education and government sectors on Wednesday accepted a government’s proposal on an annex to the basic collective agreement, underscoring that this was a matter of responsibility and solidarity and that they also managed to negotiate the payment of holiday allowances in cash.
“Five public sector trade union federations, which encompass 55 members operating in the public sector, have accepted the government’s offer to sign Annex 2 to the basic collective agreement,” Branimir Mihalinec, leader of the NSZSSH union of secondary school teachers, told reporters.
He added that they had managed to remove another obstacle in the talks, and that was concerning the payment of holiday allowances through the Cro Card, which the government had given up on.
“The reasons are responsible. The only thing that employees in public services have given up on are raises of the base pay. The base pay will be raised in 2021 as we have agreed,” Mihalinec said.
He underscored that accepting the government’s offer could be regarded as a clear message that both sides had considered their actions well and that common sense had prevailed.
“Giving up on the raise is a sign of solidarity with all the employed and citizens,” Mihalinec said.
Croatian Teachers Union (SHU) leader Sanja Sprem said that 761 branches had taken part in her union’s survey and that 88% of the members said they accepted the government’s offer, while 11% were against it.
“The biggest stumbling block was the Cro Card, but we detected the issues today, and at my insistence it was requested that the holiday allowance be paid out, which the government accepted,” Sprem underscored.
Police union leader Dubravko Jagic said they would present the government’s new offer, which was “far more acceptable than the previous one”, to their members for them to decide, and that they would know the results on Friday.
“Holiday bonuses won’t be affected, there won’t be a Cro Card and the bonuses will be paid into our members’ current accounts. Christmas bonuses won’t be touched, for the time being, there is time for negotiations in autumn. We won’t give up on Christmas bonuses,” Jagic underscored.
