Government and police trade union officials have reached a deal that could avert a referendum on the omnibus act on the balancing of public finances if it is endorsed by the cabinet and the relevant bodies of both police trade unions later on Thursday.
If the deal, whose contents remain unknown, is formally signed as planned today, the Police Trade Union and the Trade Union of Police Officers will withdraw their bid for referendum, a union official said late on Wednesday. Members of both police trade unions have been on work-to-rule strike since 18 April because they refuse to accept pay cuts which in the meantime have been agreed by the other public sector unions and included in the omnibus bill. Police Trade Union boss Radivoj Uroševič told the STA that the deal would "not affect the omnibus act" and was "within the bounds of what is possible". But the details would be presented later in the day. Head of the government negotiators, Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak, would not comment on grounds that the sides agreed not to make any comments. If the deal is not signed, the unions will not withdraw their bid, filled last Thursday backed with 4,753 signatures, which means that the speaker would have to set the deadline today for the collection of 40,000 signatures needed to call a referendum. Yet the referendum bid may also be withdrawn while signature collection is under way. But until the bid is withdrawn, the act on the balancing of public finances and comprehensive cuts in public spending cannot take effect.
Source: The SloveniaTimes
