Labour and Social Affairs Minister Petr Necas (ODS) said the protest was politically motivated. Calling it "nationwide" is overstatement, Necas said. Public traffic and work stopped in many towns at 13:00. The strike has been joined by the National Museum and National Library staff, too. The federation of engine drivers planned to stop trains in long-distance and regional transportation. The strike was called by the CMKOS umbrella trade union associating 32 trade unions with 540,000 members.
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Czech minister apologises for statements on Romanies ... told CTK today at least 800,000 CMKOS members were taking part in the strike. The strike has also been joined by the Association of Independent Trade Unions that has 15 trade unions with 200,000 members. Its chairman Bohumir Dufek told CTK the protest had been joined by about 90,000 of them. All trade unions eventually did not join the strike, Dufek said. The influential Rail Trade Union (OSZ) did not join it either. The unions say the reforms launched by the centre-right cabinet of Mirek Topolanek (ODS) have resulted in growing inflation that has decreased real pay in education, health care and the public sector. They also criticise the planned pension system reform that is to gradually increase the retirement age to 65. The lower house is to vote on the reform this week. Health personnel started the strike early in the morning against the reform steps of the government.
(Ceske Noviny)
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