The unions accuse the centre-right government of Mirek Topolanek of allowing real salaries in the educational, health care and civil service sectors to drop as a result of soaring inflation. Jaroslav Zavadil, deputy head of the CMKOS umbrella union that organises the protests, said at least 1,500 demonstrators attended the meeting today. The police, however, told CTK they estimated the attendance at 500 at the most. Even Zavadil admitted that the number of demonstrators was lower today than at the second demonstration last week when he estimated their Czech trade unions to strike against govt reform on June 24 ...
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Czech unions to launch media campaign against reforms ... number at 3,600. The protesters carried drums and metal barrels to beat, therefore today's protest was probably the loudest of all. "We clearly say that we are no sheep [to manipulate], we are competent citizens and we make it clear," said CMKOS chairman Milan Stech. He called on the participants to persuade all their friends to join the hour-long token strike the CMKOS has called for June 24. The protesters were also addressed by the first post-communist Czechoslovak foreign minister Jiri Dienstbier and Jan Majicek, spokesman for the No To Bases group struggling against the planned installation of a U.S.
missile defence radar on Czech soil. The project's opponents collected the protesters' signatures on their petition against the radar. At their previous two demonstrations outside the Government Office, held in May, the unions protested against the health care reform and against the planned pension system reform. Next Monday the series of protest is to close with a demonstration focusing on the government's approach to the school system. On the same day, teachers will hold a day-long strike. Labour and Social Affairs Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) today said he does not feel surprised at unions demonstrating against reforms. Nevertheless, he said reforms such as that of the pension system are necessary, in view of the country's demographic development, he said. "We can demonstrate..., but this is an objective demographic development and our pension system simply must react to it," Necas said after the government meeting.
(Ceske Noviny)
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