The unions said earlier they were doing so to warn about the catastrophic situation in Croatian Railways (HZ) Cargo and Passenger Transport companies, endangered transport safety, lack of social dialogue, failure to deal with huge problems, failed business decisions and breaches of workers' rights.

The engine drivers will stop about 40 freight trains between noon and 2 p.m., Engine Drivers' Union Nenad Mrgan told the media.

The union wanted to stop passenger trains as well but a court ruled it out at the request of the HZ Passenger Transport's management since a conciliation process is under way.

Mrgan said engine drivers would stop passenger trains on Saturday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Railway workers are protesting in St Mark's Square because of late salaries and dismissals in HZ Cargo, because of problems with working hours and safety in HZ Passenger Transport, and because in HZ Infrastructure their union signed an annex to the collective agreement, giving up Christmas and holiday bonuses to stop further layoffs this year. The union claims, however, that there could be 400 more layoffs after June 30.