Czech unions have expressed support for a coalition agreement covering
policies
of the nascent centre-left government. Václav Picl, the deputy chairman
of
the union umbrella organisation ČMKOS, told journalists on Monday policy
priorities generally corresponded with that of the unions. Josef
Středula,
the head of the strongest trade union KOVO, meanwhile, went further,
saying
the coalition agreement was the best the country had seen in the
post-communist era.
In particular, union leaders welcomed the planned increase in the minimum
wage, the abolition of private pension schemes (the so-called second
pillar
of pension system created by the previous centre-right government) and
more
support for families with children. Critics have charged that the emerging
coalition, however, has not outlined how many planned changes will be paid
for. On Monday, representatives of the Social Democrats, ANO and the
Christian Democrats are meeting to discuss ministerial posts in the
emerging government.