(Fwd) [73] STRIKING TEACHERS, UNION WORKERS JOIN PROTESTS

["Curtis Price" <cansv@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

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Date:          Wed, 12 Feb 1997 11:11:19 -0500
From:          NewsHound@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (NewsHound)

Subject:       [73] STRIKING TEACHERS, UNION WORKERS JOIN PROTESTS

Selected by your NewsHound profile entitled "STRIKES". The selectivity score was
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Striking teachers, union workers join protests
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (AP) -- Striking teachers, students and independent union
workers demonstrated today against President Slobodan Milosevic despite the
opposition's first triumph over his authoritarian rule.

On Tuesday, after three months of non-stop demonstrations, Serbia's parliament
acted on Milosevic's instructions and passed a law that finally conceded local
election victories won by the opposition last November.

This afternoon, some of the tens of thousands of teachers on strike in 1,800
schools across Serbia surrounded the parliament building in downtown Belgrade to
 press their demands for overdue pay and higher wages.

Some 20,000 students who want their pro-Milosevic university rector ousted went
on their 82nd daily protest march, while independent union leaders set up a soup
 kitchen aimed at feeding the hungry and rallying Serbia's workers.

The main opposition coalition, Zajedno (Together), called supporters to an
evening event that was to feature launching an unmanned red boat into the Danube
 River to symbolize the desired departure of Milosevic's neo-Communists from
Belgrade.

Bowing to pressure from home and abroad, the parliament controlled by Milosevic
on Tuesday reinstated opposition election victories in the capital of Belgrade
and 13 other cities and towns.

Milosevic apparently was hoping to end street protests that began when he
annulled those opposition wins and developed into a grassroots revolt against
his rule. Coupled with foreign pressure, it created the biggest challenge to his
 decade in power.

``The mood is extremely tense, people are not satisfied with crumbs,'' said a
top opposition leader and head of Democratic Party, Zoran Djindjic.

``I expect protests to continue in all of Serbia until larger changes than the
return of stolen votes happen. ... Serbia is in a mature stage of protests.''
Djindjic said.``Serbia will not calm down until the government is changed.''

Establishment of municipal governments in Belgrade, where Djindjic is to become
mayor, and other cities now conceded to the opposition is expected in days.

Djindjic and the two other leaders of Zajedno are riding a wave of discontent
fed by a ruined economy, 50 percent unemployment, average monthly wages that
have fallen below $100, corruption, censorship of state-run media and the
consequences of the wars fomented by Milosevic in Bosnia and Croatia.

The teachers around parliament carried today banners saying, ``We are hungry,''
and ``We want our salaries.'' High school students accompanied them to show
support.

Social workers and kindergarten aides joined the teachers' strike this week.

Blue-collar workers are largely idled or unemployed, meaning they are more
difficult to organize.

But a Belgrade-based network of trade unions known as Independence tried to
carry its message of protest to workers today, handing out bean soup to the
unemployed or impoverished.

Vuk Draskovic, a Zajedno leader, remained skeptical that Milosevic will fully
implement the law passed Tuesday.

``We have to be cautious,'' Draskovic said. ``There is no room for euphoria.''

Crucial presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for later this
year. Milosevic is barred by Serbia's constitution from seeking a third term but
 the opposition fears he may use legal tricks to stay in power.




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