News

Several protests, marches and demonstrations took place in Prague in support of Monday's strike action. Several hundred Prague high school students marched to the Education Ministry in support of their teachers to protest against the proposed changes in school funding. They handed over letters to the ministry in the early afternoon, which will be read by the education minister, who will then meet the students on Tuesday afternoon.

A trade union demonstration against the government's austerity measures also took place in Prague's Malostranská square, with workers participating from the metallurgical and textile industries and the education sector. A meeting of trade union leaders with Labour Minister Marian Jurečka was supposed to take place in the afternoon. Due to the strike, protests and possible negotiations, Mr. Jurečka canceled his trip to Brussels for a meeting of EU labour ministers.

Vice President of the European Commission Věra Jourová arrived in Kyiv on Monday for a meeting with Ukrainian politicians. According to media sources, the main purpose of her visit is to discuss the country's fight against corruption. In a post on social media site X, formerly Twitter, she said she intends to discuss what initiatives the country has taken in order to work towards EU membership.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala defended the government's austerity package on Monday as school, healthcare and industrial workers across the country went on strike in protest against the measures. At a press briefing in Brno, the prime minister said that the government will not back down under pressure from the unions, calling the cabinet's public spending measures necessary steps for a financially healthy future for Czechia.

He criticised the trade unions, saying the strikes were an attempt by leaders to make themselves more visible and there were political ambitions behind it. He also said that misinformation was circulating about what the austerity package would mean for education, which was influencing the protesters.

He said that he was prepared to return to negotiations with union leaders once they were interested in having a constructive discussion and trying to reach an agreement, but not under the threat of further protests, adding that the unions were holding the whole country hostage and probably took the government's willingness to negotiate as a sign of weakness.

Over 70 percent of Czech elementary schools, secondary schools and kindergartens are taking part in a one-day warning strike on Monday calling for higher funding for education and other changes. While some schools taking part will remain completely closed, others will be offering only partial services.

According to the school unions, the funds earmarked for next year will not allow schools to maintain the present quality of education, since they will be forced to lay off both teachers and assistants in order to maintain the present level of salaries.

Czech Education Minister Mikuláš Bek apologized to parents on Sunday evening for the fact that they and their children had become hostages in a dispute between the government, unions and strikers. He said none of the possible changes in the education system would lead to a deterioration in the quality of education.

Meanwhile, nurses and other medical personnel are also set to hold a strike on Monday against austerity measures implemented by the Czech government and so are hundreds of other firms in the industrial sector, including employees of carmaker Škoda Auto.