Crippling anti-austerity strike action in the Czech Republic today
Nick | 16.06.2011 18:46 | Public sector cuts | Workers' Movements
Today in the Czech Republic a national transport strike has shut down almost all public transport in Prague and most across the rest of the country. For the first time in history the Prague Metro was shut down. The strike was called to mount pressure on an unpopular coalition government forcing through an austerity programme that, for the transport workers, would have meant a rise in the retirement age, taxation and welfare limitations.
The strike was originally called for Monday (13th June) but courts blocked the action due to the late announcement of plans. As a result today's strike will last longer (potentially until tomorrow's rush hour) and earlier today there was a very pumped up demo. However plans for an economic blockade of Prague's arterial supply roads appear to have fallen through and blanket strike action across the country has sadly not been the case.
Yet for a fairly provincial country there seems to have been a lot of support for a centrally organised strike. Trains are entirely down nationwide. Prague today has seemed eerily quiet in the downtown areas usually bustling with tram. On the march, there were scuffles with the police outside the Ministry of Finance, where the Finance Minister was pelted with tomatoes as he attempted to address the crowd. At one other point an anti-strike group clashed with the far bigger group of striking workers and supporters - no word of how that ended but it can't be good for the nimby brigade. Local demos took place around the country.
Passions are definitely rising in the Czech Republic, where a few months ago A QUARTER of doctors nationwide resigned simultaneously to strong-arm the government into action. All had their contracts renegotiated to meet the doctors' demands, leaving the government fundamentally defeated, This was a sign that even the more conservative and corrupt areas of society are prepared for drastic action.
Prague has plenty of beautiful squares good for camping, and plenty of flammable-looking government buildings.
Yet for a fairly provincial country there seems to have been a lot of support for a centrally organised strike. Trains are entirely down nationwide. Prague today has seemed eerily quiet in the downtown areas usually bustling with tram. On the march, there were scuffles with the police outside the Ministry of Finance, where the Finance Minister was pelted with tomatoes as he attempted to address the crowd. At one other point an anti-strike group clashed with the far bigger group of striking workers and supporters - no word of how that ended but it can't be good for the nimby brigade. Local demos took place around the country.
Passions are definitely rising in the Czech Republic, where a few months ago A QUARTER of doctors nationwide resigned simultaneously to strong-arm the government into action. All had their contracts renegotiated to meet the doctors' demands, leaving the government fundamentally defeated, This was a sign that even the more conservative and corrupt areas of society are prepared for drastic action.
Prague has plenty of beautiful squares good for camping, and plenty of flammable-looking government buildings.
Nick
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