PHOTO: gnews,cz
Prague - More than half of the members of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (ČMKOS) will take part in the strike on Monday 27 November against the government's actions. Josef Středula, the chairman of the ČMKOS headquarters, told a press conference after today's congress in Prague. ČMKOS represents 270,000 trade unionists from 31 unions. According to Středula, nothing can avert the strike now. Transport unions are also planning to join the strike. Traffic could be disrupted in parts of southern Bohemia from midnight to noon, the leader said.
Initially, four unions, the education, clerical, and woodworkers' unions, and the largest union, the KOVO, were counting on a strike. They were joined by the transport, health, culture, library, food and university unions.
"The number of those who are directly involved in the strike has increased substantially... The number at the moment, and the number of members that the unions represent, is overwhelmingly above 50 percent of the membership base of the CMAA," Středula said. He said the protest will take place in all regions. He added that the Council of the Elderly and the Council of the Disabled have also expressed support.
The trade unionists criticise the shape of the government's consolidation package, the planned increase in the retirement age, high energy prices, the failure to increase public sector salaries and high inflation. According to Středula, the strike is supported by the remaining ČMKOS unions. The Association of Independent Trade Unions (ASO), which represents 12 organisations and about 110,000 trade unionists, has expressed its support. The ASO includes, for example, the influential railway and medical unions. The two headquarters have announced that they will act together. The Skoda Auto union also wants to join.
Středula said the government had time to find a deal. Leaders see nothing now that could avert union action and a strike on Monday.
The unions are also planning a protest march and demonstration in Prague on Monday. Participants will begin lining up after 12:00 at the Rudolfinum. They will then head to Malostranské náměstí, where a rally will take place from 13:00. At this meeting, the presidents and chairwomen of the unions will present their statements and possible demands.
ČMKOS unions disagree with the proposed pension reform
The Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions disagrees with the form of the proposed pension reform changes. It criticises the increase in the pension age, the reduction of new pensions and the lack of an early pension for demanding professions. The reform proposal is considered unacceptable by the central government. Středula, the chairman of ČMKOS, said this at a press conference after the union congress.
The pension reform proposal was presented last week by Czech Labor Minister Marian Jurečka (KDU-ČSL). The government published the forthcoming amendment on its website on Thursday. The draft includes a further gradual shift of the retirement age above 65 according to the length of life, a reduction in the calculation of new pensions, a minimum pension of one-fifth of the average wage, the inclusion of fictitious earnings in the amount of the average wage for the period of caring for children and relatives, and the sharing of contributions for the determination of pensions for spouses.
"We do not agree with the version put forward. An infinite retirement age is unacceptable to us... We do not agree with the reduction of pension entitlements. No adjustment has been put forward again after 32 years for those employees who work in heavy professions. Despite the promises made by the governments, this has not happened again," said Středula.
Ministries, other institutions, trade unions and employers can submit their comments until mid-December. Jurečka said last week that the government could receive the amendment by the turn of the year. According to plans, the law should be discussed in the lower house by the end of July. It would then go to the Senate for consideration and to the president for signature. The opposition ANO and SPD parties have reservations about the draft and disagree with a number of measures.
Jurečka said the proposal for earlier pensions for demanding professions should be ready by the turn of the year. It could then be added to the reform amendment under discussion, the minister said last week. The list of professions for which it would be possible to retire early without a reduction in the amount is still under discussion. This would apply to workers whose health effects cannot be prevented by compensatory aids, the minister said earlier.
The retirement age has been rising in the Czech Republic for years. For men, it is postponed by two months every year, for women usually by more months. Men, childless women and mothers with one child will reach 65 in 2030 first, and mothers with more children later. Each year, the age limit should be reassessed according to the life expectancy of people who are about to turn 50. It should be delayed by a maximum of two years a year. The calculation of new pensions is to be gradually reduced until 2034, with a smaller proportion of earnings and contributions being taken into account. The minimum pension is to correspond to 20 per cent of the average wage.
(CTK/RoZ)
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