Unions slam government over pay talks stalemate, demand 9–10% hike

Public sector unions are accusing the Czech government of ignoring repeated calls to begin negotiations over wage increases for next year. They are demanding a 9 to 10 percent hike in base pay rates and say they are giving the Fiala cabinet until July 10 to respond. If there’s no movement by then, Josef Středula, leader of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions, says they will begin planning further steps.

Labour Minister Marian Jurečka previously told reporters the government is preparing to raise public sector wage tariffs as of January 2026. According to the latest forecast from the Ministry of Finance, average earnings are projected to rise by 5.4 percent to 51,870 crowns monthly. Adjusted for inflation, that would amount to a real increase of 3.1 percent, with inflation forecast at 2.3 percent.