Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla is trying to prevent the planned September strike of teachers and state employees without paying the money demanded by labour unions.

State employees are calling for at least a partial payment of their 13th and 14th paycheques, full conservation of sick-leave benefits, and inclusion of high-school years in their pensions.

Spidla says the demands are reasonable, but the state has insufficient funds to meet them.

(PBJ 18.viii.03)