Strike in Croatia Airlines postponed

The strike in the national flag-carrier Croatia Airlines, which the company workers announced would begin on Monday, July 9, was postponed, N1 learned on Friday.

Representatives of the pilot, cabin crew and mechanics’ unions met with the Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic today per his invitation. They agreed that their problems will be addressed after the government’s summer recess.

After the last round of talks with the company’s management had fallen through on June 11, the unions had said this Tuesday that they would cease all operations until the management agreed to their new collective agreement.

Company’s employees are demanding an increase in salaries, longer-term collective agreements, and the reduction in overtime hours assigned to employees.

The unions told N1 that the conversation with the Prime Minister was “serious and constructive.”

A discussion was held today at the Zagreb County Court to determine whether the workers’ strike would be illegal. The court determined that the strike was not illegal, and that, despite Croatia Airlines’ suit, all the conditions were met for the strike to begin on June 9, a press release from the Croatia Airlines workers’ union ORCA said.

“The union’s representatives presented Croatia Airlines’ problems to the Prime Minister, who expressed his understanding and said he was prepared to ensure that all the necessary conditions for the conclusion of the collective agreement were met,” the press release said.

Because of that, they added, the strike is postponed until those conditions are met, within a reasonable period of time.

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