Czech labor unions stage a day of action in protest at spending cuts and taxes
Labor unions have staged a day of protests and strikes across the Czech Republic to voice their opposition to the government’s package of cuts and austerity measures meant to keep the ballooning deficit under control
PRAGUE — Labor unions staged a day of protests and strikes across the Czech Republic on Monday to voice their opposition to the government’s package of cuts and austerity measures meant to keep the ballooning deficit under control.
The unions are also demanding more money for the education and healthcare sectors and are protesting proposed changes to the pension system.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala said his government was not ready to give in because the measures are “absolutely necessary.”
“We have to stop the state indebtedness, ” Fiala said.
The unions were marching through Prague before rallying at a downtown square near Parliament’s building.
“The unionists protest because they don't like the development in the Czech Republic under the current government,” Josef Stredula, the head of a major umbrella union organization, told the crowd of several thousand.
“Resign,” the protesters chanted, aiming their message at the government.
Stredula said the unions will plan more protests if the government refuses to negotiate.
Some 74% or over 7,200 nursery, elementary and high schools across the country were either fully or partially closed Monday in the biggest such protest since the establishment of the Czech Republic in 1993, unions said. Several universities supported the unions’ move.
Workers at hundreds of companies, including some state offices and major carmaker Skoda Auto, were planning to join the protests, mostly by stopping work for an hour or two.
Both houses of the Parliament approved and President
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