Trade unions call day-long strike for December 8

The Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions has called a one-day strike for December 8 against the government’s spending cuts, union leaders told reporters on Monday. The confederation’s head, Jaroslav Zavadil, said employees in the public sector together with other trade unions would take part. The Czech government is planning to introduce a 10-percent pay cut to salaries of public employees. Prime Minister Petr Nečas said on Monday the government was ready for negotiations; however, it would not back off its plans to cut spending. If the planned strike does take place, it will be one of the biggest protests since the fall of communism.