Calling the two union leaders comrades in arms from the change of regime, Orban said the cabinet and unions agree that Hungary should build a work-based economy and that economic performance should improve.

He admitted that there were differences of opinion between the cabinet and unions in the past two years but thanked Gasko and Palkovics for “never slipping from the civilised arena of political-economic disagreement to that of political incitement”.

Neither participated in last year’s anti-government marches organised by police, fire-fighters and other unions.

Regarding the laws on strikes, he said the rights of those who do not join fellow workers in going on strike must be guaranteed even during work stoppages, therefore an agreement on skeleton services must be reached before any strike can begin. Any dispute should be settled in court, he added.

Gasko told reporters that conditions for workers have become tougher in the past two years, as their rights have been curtailed, and their salaries and allowances have fallen.

Palkovics welcomed the broadening of employment and the process of making the economy more efficient.

In the conclusion of his two weeks of consultations, Orban will today attend an expanded leadership meeting of the employers association VOSZ, headed by Sandor Demjan.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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