PRAGUE, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The trade unions representing the public sector in the Czech Republic declared a strike alert on Wednesday due to ongoing disputes with the government over pay rises for this year and the next.
The Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (CMKOS), the country's largest trade union association, said in a statement that its affiliated unions representing workers in public services and administration declared the strike alert in response to "the government's lack of engagement in negotiations about salary increase in 2014-2025."
According to CMKOS, the unions initially demanded a 15-percent salary increase starting from Sept. 1, 2024. After two meetings with Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Marian Jurecka in June, they compromised and reduced their demand to 10 percent.
"In July, Minister of Finance Zbynek Stanjura informed us that a decision on the salary increase must be made before the start of the government recess (July 24) and that the Prime Minister would convene a meeting on this matter. This meeting has not taken place to date," it said.
CMKOS said eight of its 13 associated unions are on strike alert, while the others support it.
Over 846,000 people reportedly work in the public sector in the Czech Republic. ■
