The unions convene an assembly in Prague in September, announcing demands against the dearly
Updates: 16.05.2022 13:23
Released: 16.05.2022, 13:23
Prague – The unions are convening an assembly in Prague on September 5, at which they want to publish their demands against the rise in price and prepare for their next steps. 1500 to 2000 trade unionists could arrive. Josef Středula, the chairman of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (ČMKOS), told reporters after today’s meeting. The unions call their event a “demonstration meeting”. CMKOS, as the largest trade union headquarters, always organizes it in September. Employee representatives mobilize their forces there before the start of wage negotiations. It was first held in 2015.
“The CMKOS Council has decided that a demonstration meeting will take place from 11:00 on September 5 and will take place in Prague. It will be about the fact that we want to make it clear that “she does not like it and it is very serious that we are professionally constructive and we consider the requirements as we consider them important for employees and their family,” said Středula. According to him, 1,500 to 2,000 trade unionists could reach the metropolis. The CMKOS Council consists of the leaders of all 31 headquarters unions, which have a total of about 270,000 members.
The trade unions are expected to debate the venue and the exact form of this year’s event in June. Past meetings to mobilize trade union forces before collective bargaining took place in the sports hall in Liben or the Karlín Forum. It has not happened in recent years due to the epidemic. Earlier events included flags of individual unions, dramatic music, motivational videos on large screens and projections of statistical data. Leaders from abroad also performed.
Four unions called for government anti-inflation measures last week. They mentioned the regulation of energy and fuel prices as well as measures against rising food prices and the devaluation of earnings and savings. They held a petition in support of their demands. Today, the CMKOS Council is securing the signing event of the trade unions of woodworkers, trade workers, education and transport.
Trade union talks with the government on public sector wages will begin on May 25. Leaders want to push to add this year. The CMKOS is also demanding an increase in the minimum wage from CZK 2,000 to CZK 18,200 from July.
The tripartite should then discuss measures to combat high inflation and mitigate the impact on companies and employees. The trade unions criticize the planned intentions of the cabinet. “The steps that the government is preparing do not seem the most logical and sensible to us,” said Středula, who announced his intention to run for president earlier this week. He mentioned a benefit of 5,000 crowns per child for a family with an annual income of up to one million crowns gross or the setting of flat rates for self-employed persons. According to the unions’ calculations, public budgets would lose 19 billion crowns after the flat rates were adjusted. The leader of the CMKOS believes that in determining the income amounts for a one-time child allowance, the government has “crossed the line” of who is needed and should have help from the state. “If it is someone who has a million crowns gross, then we have extremely low benefits, a minimum wage, salaries,” said Středula. He also pointed to a possible further increase in energy and gas prices in the autumn.