Representatives of five railway workers' unions refused to talk to their management on Wednesday and walked out of the meeting after Transport Minister Sinisa Hajdas Doncic drew their attention to the need for the modernisation and restructuring of the Croatian Railways (HZ) company.
Hajdas Doncic told the unionists that the rail sector comprised three separate companies that have been undergoing restructuring since last November when HZ Holding ceased to exist, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure said in a statement.
"HZ Infrastructure has advanced furthest in restructuring, and we have so far succeeded in our efforts to co-finance the modernisation and reconstruction of railway infrastructure along the Vc and X corridors, which are the EU's Baltic and Mediterranean corridors, with EU funding," the minister said. He added that from 2016 to 2019 two billion euros would be invested in the railway routes running from Rijeka to the Hungarian border and from the Slovenian border to the border with Serbia. Work worth 210 million euros is to begin on the Dugo Selo - Krizevci line by the end of the year.
As for HZ Passenger Transport, Hajdas Doncic said that talks were under way with commercial banks to provide funding for investment in new trains. "At the same time, we are preparing to subsidise passenger transport by involving local and regional government units. That is important because in that way, by modernising HZ Passenger Transport and increasing the volume of transport, we are preparing for the liberalisation of the market in 2017," he said.
Speaking of HZ Cargo, the minister said that recapitalisation was being prepared, adding that four companies had shown interest. He promised the unions that workers' wages would be paid regularly.
"Railways have a great chance of becoming a driving force for modernisation and for construction and economic growth. Three billion euros will be invested in them by 2020. Let's not miss this chance and let's try to make up for what has been neglected for years. It is your legitimate right to strike," Hajdas Doncic said.
The talks involved Zoran Marsic of the Railway Workers' Union, Nenad Mrgan of the Engine Drivers' Union, Ante Ilicic of the Train Dispatchers' Union, Slavko Proleta of the HZ Infrastructure Union, Marijan Jelenski of the HZ Union, and Kresimir Sever of the Croatian Independent Trade Unions.
When Marsic presented the unions' demands to Hajdas Doncic, the minister reiterated that he could not discuss their demands and that they should address any demands relating to social dialogue to their management. After that the unionists refused to talk to the representatives of the management boards of the three companies and walked out of the meeting, the statement said.
