Zagreb - Over 40,000 workers from all over Croatia took part in Zagreb Saturday in a mass protest calling for higher wages to keep pace with the rising cost of living. Despite very heavy rain and low temperatures, the demonstration - under the banner "together for higher wages" - turned out to be the biggest such event of its kind in over a decade, Croatian HRT television reported.
The peaceful demonstration cheered trade union leader Kresimir Sever's declaration that "Croatia is split - there are a few super- rich people, and countless poor."
The trade unions called for wage increases in line with the cost of living, which in the last 12 months has increased by 7.6 per cent.
Prime Minister Ivo Sanander has lent his indirect support to the demands, but has said the government was not directly responsible for fulfilling the demands.
He is in favour of a social dialogue and partnership between workers, companies and the state.
President Stjepan Mesic wanted to join the protest, but the organizers refused, according to media reports.
