Troubled times for Yugoslavia

Press, 17 March 1987, Page 8

Troubled times for Yugoslavia

NZPA-Reuter Belgrade Yugoslavia faces a possible fresh wave of strikes after an unprecedented outbreak of stoppages in the Communist country last week over a Government wage freeze.

Official sources said many enterprises had still not passed on wage cuts of up to 50 per cent, brought on by a retroactive wage freeze imposed by the Prime Minister, Branko Mikulic, on February 27, but they could be reflected in pay packets this month, triggering further strikes.

Official newspaper reports said many enterprises are already organising meetings to discuss strike possibilities.

The Croatian trade union chief, Ivo Bilandzija, said at the week-end the future was “uncertain.” At least 60' strikes have been held throughout Yugoslavia in the last two weeks involving many thousands of workers, local press reports said.

Trade union leaders from Croatia, the main centre of the disputes, blamed the Government at the week-end for triggering the strikes through an unfair policy. Wages were cut last month because many companies rushed through big end-of-year pay rises in December to beat an impending partial pay freeze.