In negotiations on the TKU, union leaders demand a salary increase in public services of about 15.2 percent

Ahead of the continuation of negotiations on the new basic collective agreement (TKU) for public services with the Government’s negotiating team, the president of the Independent Union of Health and Social Care of Croatia, Stjepan Topolnjak, stated on Tuesday that the most important topics are the issue of salary bases, transportation, jubilee awards, and severance pay.

>>> Negotiations on the Basic Collective Agreement for Public Services Have Begun

The issue of transportation cost reimbursement burdens all our workers, and until now the calculation has been unfavorable, and we would like to change it to be more favorable for the worker, i.e., at least at the level of actual costs so that they do not have to pay out of pocket to get to work. Until now, this reimbursement was about 0.75 kuna per kilometer, but according to our calculations, it should be at least 1.34 kuna, said Topolnjak, who is also the coordinator of today’s negotiations from the union side.

He also noted that he expects the signing of the negotiating protocol today.

>>> The Salary Base for Public Services Increased by Two Percent

If a mutually acceptable proposal for the negotiating protocol is not reached, we will not dwell on it for long, as we do not have much time left; we have only two weeks to sign the collective agreement. Therefore, it does not make much sense to linger on the negotiating protocol, as we can negotiate outside of it, added Topolnjak.

Union leaders announced before the start of negotiations on the TKU that they would seek an increase in the cost of labor, i.e., a salary increase in public services of about 15.2 percent.