CSSD supports planned strike of Prague public transport staff

The unions in DPP want to stop public transport over the bad financial situation of the company operated by the City Hall.

If public transport were stopped in the city, it would be naturally unpleasant for both Prague residents and visitors, Skromach told reporters after a meeting of the CSSD broad leadership.

"We believe that [people's] displeasure should not turn against the striking employees, who defend their justifiable rights. It should be rather directed against the City Hall's incapability of securing conditions for transport to operate in Prague appropriately," said Skromach.

Prague Mayor Pavel Bem (Civic Democrats, ODS) earlier this week branded the envisaged strike irresponsible. He said the unions take Praguers hostage.

Bem called on the unions to give the DPP management and the City Hall some more time for negotiations.

The City Hall has also proposed that the DPP management lower their wages by 30 percent and the remaining staff by seven percent. It also demands reductions in the welfare the staff enjoy under the collective agreement.

The unions have rejected the demands.

They point to the threat of further massive layoffs in DPP and to the fact that DP faces a budget deficit of almost 2 billion crowns.

Last Monday, heads of the DPP's individual union branches agreed to prepare the strike. On Thursday they announced they can launch the strike anytime.

They want to aim their protest against the Prague Hall that in their opinion has caused the bad situation of the DPP.

($1=17.277 crowns)

Autor: ČTK
www.ctk.cz