The government is expected to give its final offer to striking unionists next Monday, the president of the high school teachers' union, Branimir Mihalinec, said Tuesday, adding that the strike of teachers in primary and secondary schools would continue according to plan -- all schools in Croatia will be on strike on Wednesday and a protest would be held outside Government House in Zagreb.

Talks between the Science and Education Ministry and teacher unions’ representatives resumed on Tuesday afternoon.

After the talks, Mihalinec said that both sides expressed interest in resolving the problem.

“Both the government and teachers’ unions want to resolve this problem, to the satisfaction of everyone. We are not backing down on our demands, but let us come to a final solution through talks and negotiations,” Mihalinec told the press.

He declined to speak of the content of the government’s offer, saying he hoped the government would present its final offer to the unionists next Monday.

Education Minister Blazenka Divjak said the meeting with the unionists was constructive, adding that the government would present its offer to the unions on Monday, November 11.

“We are finding a way for reach a solution, however, to be certain that this is something acceptable (…) to both the unions and the government, we have decided we need one more week to harmonise something we could then present on Monday,” Divjak said.

Mihalinec said that once the unions receive the government’s offer in writing, they will send it to their members who will put it up for a referendum.