Union Rights, Pensions/retirement, Czech Republic

On 29 March, EPSU affiliates, including the OSZSP health union, joined the national demonstration against an increase in the pension age that was called by OS KOVO, the largest trade union in the country. Trade unions are concerned about rumours that the government might increase the retirement age from 65 to 68. They are not only demanding that there should be no increase but that there should be measures to allow for earlier retirement, particularly in arduous and dangerous occupations. The CMKOS trade union confederation has launched a petition against any pension age increase.

Trade unions, youth and student groups and many other organisations continue to campaign against the French government’s proposed pension changes, including the increase in the pension age from 62 to 64. The latest and seventh day of protests took place on 11 March and further demonstrations and strikes are planned across different sectors. All EPSU affiliates are involved across the main confederations and trade union organisations – CGT, CFDT, FO, UNSA and CFE-CGC. Meanwhile, trade unions in the Czech confederation CMKOS are concerned about the possibility of government changes that would