Czech unions mobilise members

The leadership of the main Czech union confederation agreed earlier this month to continue with its protests against the Czech government's tax and spending plans, which have already led to Prague's largest protest in a decade.

The unions are opposing the proposals of the centre-right government, led by Mirek Topolanek, which involve tax cuts, particularly for high earners, and a sharp reduction in public spending.

On 23 June they organised a demonstration in the capital Prague, where over 30,000 participants gathered making it the largest demonstration since 100,000 people marched against a previous right-wing leader Vaclav Klaus.

Milan Stech, the chair of the main union confederation CMKOS, called the package of changes "a boomerang" for the government and promised that the unions would "not be scared off". The measures are due to be voted on later this month and the CMKOS executive last month agreed to keep up the protest.

So far they have not agreed with the proposals of the smaller union confederation ASO to call a general strike in opposition and Stech said that for CMKOS it "is not on the agenda for the weeks and months to come". However ASO, which includes the railway unions, plans to press ahead.