Ljubljana  - Disgruntled after they were put in the same basket with other public servants, Slovenian judges launched a three-day warning strike Monday, pressing the government for status and wage negotiations.

The strike came after Prime Minister Janez Jansa's centre-right government agreed a 13-per cent wage raise with labour unions over the next two years to offset the inflation punch Slovenia has experienced with the introduction of the euro in 2007.

The raise plan, however, did not include judges, who, apart from a wage increase are also demanding they be given a status comparable to that of representatives in national parliament and government ministers, instead of the same level as other civil servants.

Despite the threat of a strike, Jansa's cabinet however ruled out any labour talks with the judges - who, owing to a huge judicial backlog Slovenian courts, have little public sympathy.

Slovenia holds regular parliamentary elections in September. (dpa)