Croat teachers end strike after winning pay rise

ZAGREB, Nov 25 (Reuters) Croatian teachers ended a three-day strike today after agreeing a deal with the government for higher salaries, state news agency Hina reported.

The deal includes a gradual rise in wages over six years.

''This agreement has been made because a teacher's job implies strong responsibility, and is complex and very important for the society,'' Hina quoted Prime Minister Ivo Sanader as saying after reaching the deal with teachers' unions.

Teachers make up seven percent of the workforce in Croatia and virtually all primary and secondary schools and universities were affected by the strike.

Earlier this week the government and civil servants agreed an annual six percent salary increase over the next three years.

Many analysts said the pay rise for civil servants could undermine the fiscal efforts to make the country a prospect for joining the euro zone.

Zagreb, which started the EU accession talks a year ago, wants to become a member of the European Union in this decade and join the euro zone two to three years later.

The government wants to cut Croatia's fiscal deficit this year to 3.0 percent of gross domestic product to meet the EU criteria. Next year the deficit is targeted at 2.8 percent of GDP and in 2009 1.5 percent of GDP.

Reuters DH VP02223