Czech Police Warn Government of Potential Protest Plans
Czech police have exerted pressure on the government, demanding a pay raise while warning of a potential strike that could last for several weeks. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Despite some attempts by the government to address their concerns, thousands of Czech police officers are preparing to protest against insufficient salary increments.
The two principal unions representing police personnel, the larger National Union of Police Officers (NOSP) and the smaller Union of Independent Police (UBS), have scheduled protests to commence on September 16 for at least one working week. They are expressing dissatisfaction with the government's unfulfilled promise to increase their wages by 10%.
“We are also thinking about extending the protest for another week or two, and it could easily last even a month,” NOSP President Tomas Machovic stated last week.
Last Friday, Interior Minister Vit Rakusan revealed plans by the government to raise police wages by 5% annually over the next three years. While Machovic acknowledged that the offer was acceptable, leading his union to decide against protesting, the UBS, with a membership of around 6,500, plans to proceed with the demonstrations.
UBS chairman Ales Lehky indicated, “at some point in the next month,” their members would still engage in protests. He argued that numerous officers under NOSP prefer to continue with the strikes rather than accept the government's offer.
This civil unrest occurs amid background tensions, as the Czech Republic has been a significant contributor to military aid in Ukraine, with the Defense Ministry reporting approximately $300 million in weapons donations since February 2022. This situation has already sparked major protests demanding an end to the military support of Kiev.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
The two principal unions representing police personnel, the larger National Union of Police Officers (NOSP) and the smaller Union of Independent Police (UBS), have scheduled protests to commence on September 16 for at least one working week. They are expressing dissatisfaction with the government's unfulfilled promise to increase their wages by 10%.
“We are also thinking about extending the protest for another week or two, and it could easily last even a month,” NOSP President Tomas Machovic stated last week.
Last Friday, Interior Minister Vit Rakusan revealed plans by the government to raise police wages by 5% annually over the next three years. While Machovic acknowledged that the offer was acceptable, leading his union to decide against protesting, the UBS, with a membership of around 6,500, plans to proceed with the demonstrations.
UBS chairman Ales Lehky indicated, “at some point in the next month,” their members would still engage in protests. He argued that numerous officers under NOSP prefer to continue with the strikes rather than accept the government's offer.
This civil unrest occurs amid background tensions, as the Czech Republic has been a significant contributor to military aid in Ukraine, with the Defense Ministry reporting approximately $300 million in weapons donations since February 2022. This situation has already sparked major protests demanding an end to the military support of Kiev.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
