Judiciary sector employees on strike over low pay

Judiciary sector employees are on a three day strike from October 7th to the 9th in protest against low wages. Trade Union representatives said the planned salary hikes for next year are insufficient and many employees in the judiciary will remain CZK 5,000 to 6,000 below the average wage in public administration. They argue that fundamental underfunding, inadequate staff capacity and work overload are leading to a loss of ability to ensure timely and high-quality performance. The unions are moreover insisting on a change in financing so that employees in the judiciary would be set apart from the rest of the civil service. Last-minute attempts by the justice minister to avert the strike action failed.