Czech Post workers strike for higher wages
Czech Post employees have joined a chain strike in demand for better wages. According to the state company’s spokeswoman, the strike has not affected services at counters, although it may delay delivery of parcels ahead of Christmas.
Figures provided by Czech Post are somewhat lower; according to the company’s spokeswoman Eva Krejčí, some 84 employees have joined the protest so far.
The chain strike is to last for an hour at each facility before moving on to the next site until midnight on Thursday. The Czech Post union members recorded over 600 people on Wednesday night who said they would join the strike. They are expecting the number of protesters will rise throughout the day. According to the deputy head of the strike committee, Filip Janovský, a silent protest is also set to take place.
All three of the country’s postal trade unions have been pushing for a wage increase for workers by 2,500 crowns a month. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Interior Minister Milan Chovanec, under whose administration the state owned company falls, have described these demands as unrealistic in view of the company’s economic results. Employees have been promised a raise of just over 500 crowns a month.
The average wage in the company is currently between 22,700 and 23,000 crowns, that is more than 4,000 crowns less than the national average with many postal workers earning far below that average.
Czech Post spokesman Matyáš Vitík has denied the claims, adding that Czech Post will suffer damages to the tune of millions of crowns a day due to the protests.
