CEMEX International Corporation Lays Off Workers at Dalmacijacement

HINA

29 September 2005

The new owner of �Dalmacijacement� from Split, the �CEMEX� international corporation, decided to lay off one hundred workers. The president of the United Trade Unions of Croatia (HUS), Ozren Matijasevic, said that the unions tried to fight for preservation of all jobs, but the ownership rejected their efforts.

"Dalmacijacement" is one of the biggest exporters in Dalmatia and leading maker of cement in Croatia. Last year, the company reported total revenue of 982 million Kuna, of which 150 million were reported as profits.

The President of HUS, Ozren Matijaseivic said that the new owner, at the beginning of the negotiations with the trade unions, claimed repeatedly that there were no surplus workers at the company. However, now, after it acquired the company, CEMEX started firing workers, seeking the trade union�s agreement for their actions.

"HUS will not agree to their severance programmes, having in mind that they are in clear breach of the Law, and we expect from the Employment Bureau to back up our position�, said Matijasevic, and added that he fears that the new owners of �Dalmacijacement� will not stop at the number of one hundred downsized workers.