Czech Republic

Following negotiations with the new government public service unions have negotiated increased salaries and wages for all public service employees. Wage rates increased for all employees either by 3.5% from November 2014 or by 5% from 1 January 2015. Unions report this as a successful outcome to their bargaining and plan to negotiate to rectify the cuts imposed by the previous government, which had a negative impact not just on staff but on citizens dependent on public services.

Public service unions continue to be involved in the anti-austerity protests coordinated by the CMKOS trade union confederation. A week of action beginning 14 May will be followed by a another national demonstration on 22 May. The week of action will involve protestors occupying ministries as well as unions providing information to the public on the implication of the cuts to services. CMKOS will also consider the possibility of calling for a general strike. [Read more at > Czech news webstie (EN)->http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/zpravy/czech-unionists-activists-to-march-through-prague-on-may

The latest figures from the Czech statistics agency show a significant gap in earnings growth between sectors with the electricity, gas and water industries recording the highest increase at 18.2% compared to the first quarter of 2007. In contrast the lowest increases were in public administration (3.0%) and health and social services (5.3%). With inflation over the period at 7.4% this means that real earnings growth in the utilities was 10.8% while public administration and health saw real earnings decline by 4.4% and 2.1% respectively. [Read more at > Czech statistics agency (EN)->http://www

The CMKOS trade union confederation has attacked proposals for major changes to the Czech labour code. The plans were announced in March before the collapse of the government and the confederation argues that this means that there is now no mandate for the changes. The reforms focus on creating a more flexible labour market that would make it easier for employers to dismiss employees and to make greater use of fixed-term workers. If implemented the changes would also undermine collective bargaining and the rights of trade unions at the workplace. [Read more at > CMKOS (EN)->http://www.cmkos.cz