Unions announce “strike alert” over public service pay cuts

Trades unions in the Czech Republic have announced an indefinite “strike alert” in protest at government plans to cut the salaries of state employees. The leader of the main unions organisation, Jaroslav Zavadil, informed the Czech prime minister, Petr Nečas, of the decision on Tuesday morning. After that meeting, Mr Nečas said the government would not back down over its plan to cut the total amount spent on public sector pay by 10 percent next year. The prime minister called for more talks with union leaders.

The right-of-centre coalition has pledged to balance the Czech Republic’s budget by 2016. It plans extensive reforms of the pension, health and tertiary education systems.