Gov't and civil servants' unions closer to deal

The government and the civil servants' unions drew closer to a new Collective Agreement for 60,000 civil servants after a third round of negotiations on Monday. The next round is to be held on Wednesday.

Labour and Pension Minister Mirando Mrsic said after the meeting that a platform had been reached that would make it possible for the negotiations to end successfully, adding that they needed a little more time to work out all the details regarding transport allowances.

Mrsic said that an annex to the agreement would specify that Christmas bonuses would not be paid for this year and the next, that holiday cash grants would not be paid next year, and that the payment of jubilee awards for next year would be redefined. He, however, stressed that holiday cash grants for this year would be paid.

The leader of the Independent Union of Police Officers, Zdravko Loncar, said he was not too happy with the positions reached during the negotiations, but that he would present them to the membership for consideration. He expressed hope that the situation would have improved by October 2013 and that they would not have to discuss "such painful issues" again.  (Hina)