Water, Collective Bargaining, Czech Republic

(August 2016) A survey of collective agreements across the Czech Republic for 2014-2015 shows ear-on-year, there was a significant increase in the number of collective agreements containing commitments on overall wage increases and commitments to increase salary tariffs. The survey also looked at salary bonuses and benefits as well as working hours and holidays where there were no significant developments over the period covered. Read more at Eurofound.

The OSZSP health and social care union issued a strike alert on 17 August following lack of progress in negotiations on wage and salary increases and the failure of the Ministry of Health to fulfil earlier promises. The union believes action on pay is essential in order to ensure recruitment to the health service and the effective functioning of hospitals. OSZSP argues that the staffing crisis threatens the extent and quality of the care provided, particularly in some smaller hospitals. The union will coordinate the next steps with the Medical Trade Union - the Association of Czech Physicians

In a press release confirming the implementation this month of a 10% pay increase for public service workers, the OSZSP health union underlines the role of the trade union in these successful negotiations. The increase this year means that hospital workers have seen an overall pay rise of 30% in the last four years while workers in social services have seen a 26% increase. Meanwhile, social workers and direct care workers have seen their pay rise by 47.5% over the same period. The union recognises that low pay is still a challenge in health and social services and is committed to win further

(July 2017) The OSSOO state trade union met with ministers at the end of June to discuss the pay structure in state administration, noting some progress in pay for certain categories of worker and the prospect of a new pay system. The union also reiterated its call for a 10% pay rise for state workers from September this year.

Public sector trade unions met on 30th August to give a clear message to the government that there should be no further delay in paying the 10% salary increase for all public service workers. The unions accused the government of delay as it had already indicated that the promised increase would be applied from November rather than September. The unions said that they had been negotiating in good faith since April and would be joining a national demonstration on pay on 14 September to underline their message to the government.

EPSU affiliates in the Czech Republic took part in the national rally organised by the CMKOS confederation calling for an end to cheap labour. The rally marked the latest stage in the campaign begun by CMKOS in 2015 and tying in perfectly with the ETUC pay rise campaign launched in February this year. The confederation says that pay across the country has risen by 10% over the past two years and it is calling for a further increase of 10% for 2018.

Public service unions bargaining for better pay across EuropeA pay rise for public service workers across Europe is the message that EPSU has sent out today – 23rd June – Public Services Day. Supported by the European Trade Union Confederation and in cooperation with the ETUCE teachers' federation, EPSU has highlighted some of the countries where public service workers continue to suffer from the effects of pay cuts and pay freezes.This special issue of EPSU's Collective Bargaining newsletter reports on some of the latest developments in pay negotiations and affiliates' campaigns, protests and

The OSZSP health union met the prime minister and health minister on 17 April to raise serious concerns about pay in the sector. The union says that many workers are not being paid special allowances worth CZK 2000-5000 (EUR 80-200). Instead some are getting only CZK 1000-1200 (EUR 40-50) and others nothing at all. The prime minister expressed surprise and asked for details of the hospitals that are failing to pay the correct amounts. The OSZSP also wants action to ensure consistent payment of basic salaries across the sector and raised the continuing problem of low pay in social services. The

(September 2016) Over 1000 trade unionists, including many representatives from EPSU unions, gathered in Prague on 7 September as part of the pay campaign coordinated by the CMKOS confederation. End cheap labour is the campaign slogan and union data shows the extent to which pay trends in the country have lagged behind other parts of Europe. CMKOS notes that there has already been some progress this year with pay increases promised to civil servants and health workers and the target next year is for unions to negotiate pay increases of 5% to 5.5%. Read more at CMKOS (CZ).