Trade union headquarters threaten general strike and blockade of Prague – CT24 – Czech Television
Exactly ten years ago, ninety thousand people came to Wenceslas Square to protest the government of Petr Nečas (ODS). Trade unions are threatened by similar actions this year as well. “I last experienced such a situation in 2012. Our goal is to agree, not to have a general strike,” said Josef Středula, head of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions. According to the chairman of the Association of Independent Trade Unions, Bohumír Dufek, the blockade of Prague is also at stake.
“I understand that the situation is very unpleasant. That is why we say that the debate must be open. And it is always better than in some ultimate statements, “said Interior Minister Vít Rakušan (STAN).
The unions do not particularly like the fact that the government insists on a freeze or only a slight increase in the salaries of civil servants at a time of thirteen percent inflation. They also demand an increase in the minimum wage. They want to increase the salaries of state employees by at least eight percent, and the minimum wage by at least a thousand a month.
The unions made their demands at a tripartite meeting last Tuesday, with no result yet. “I really don’t see the space. I’m not happy about that, but we took over the finances in such a poor state that we can’t help but afford a higher salary increase, “said Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS), head of the state coffers.
On Tuesday, Středula sent a letter to Marian Jureček (KDU-ČSL) asking him to negotiate. “We see no reason why we should be accommodating here, because the government is showing that people should lose weight,” said the head of the largest trade union headquarters.
The Czech government is willing to negotiate an increase in the salaries of civil servants and an increase in minimum wages. According to Jurečka, the cabinet could decide at the end of June. That is, at the time when it will approve the amendment to the state budget for this year. “As a government, we have made it clear that we will do this, let’s do it,” he said.
The unions want to agree on a possible compromise with the government within a month. Already in May, the Association of Independent Trade Unions is preparing a blockade of Prague.
Jurečka: At the request of trade unions from labor offices, it is not possible to accede
Trade unions from the labor office are also demanding an increase in earnings this year. They complain about the overload of officials and the freezing of salaries. They are therefore going to declare a strike emergency on May 1. Authorities decided on Thursday. They called Jurečka to a meeting. The head of the official unions, Pavel Bednář, said that “the ball is now on the minister’s side” and that the unions prefer action to pressure.
“We cannot now approach the demand for salary increases only for employees of the employment office. I do not consider it right to go at the expense of, for example, staff in social services or non-teaching staff in education, “Jurečka responded.
According to him, however, the Cabinet is considering variants, including the possibility of a comprehensive increase in tariffs for employees in the public sphere. “However, there was no agreement in the government, because the options we inherited in a terrible state are still limited,” he added. He will negotiate with trade union workers next week. He wants to present them with a concrete solution.