The Metalworkers’ Union and the Union of Energy, Chemistry and Non-Metals of Croatia will merge into the Union of Industrial Workers of Croatia, thus becoming the strongest industrial union in Croatia.
The idea of merging has been around for several years, but only now have the formal legal preparations become very serious. The establishment of the union is expected in February or
March of next year, and it should officially start operating after the union congress in October 2010. The Metalworkers’ Union has about 20,000
members, while the Union of Energy, Chemistry and Non-Metals has 12,000, so the new union will be numerically respectable even without additional members.
– The merger is being conducted based on similar unions in Austria and Germany. We are open to receiving unions from all other industries because our strength lies in numbers – says Ivo Marjanović, former president of the Metalworkers’ Union who is now at the helm of the Confederation of Metal and Chemical Unions. Among potential new members of the future Union of Industrial Workers, interest has been shown by unions from the wood industry, small businesses, and construction. (M. B.)
