Employees of the embattled mining firm OKD have announced a series of
strikes over disputes with the firm’s management related to a new
collective agreement. The first four-hour strike will take place November
19; another, one-day strike is scheduled for 10 days later while a
three-day strike is scheduled for early December, the leader of the
company’s trade union said, adding the strikes could only be averted if
the firm accepts the union’s demands. Last week, a majority of OKD
workers voted in favour of the strike. Negotiations about a new, four-year
collective agreement started in August; due to poor economic results, OKD
wants to cut some benefits included in the current agreement. The firm is
also planning to close down one of its mines, cutting around 3,000 jobs.