Prague, Dec 22 (CTK) – Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and leaders of three trade unions signed yesterday the first higher collective agreement for the civil servants under which they are entitled to five sick days a year among others.
The agreement to be valid from January 1 until the end of 2016 also embeds the employees´ title to special bonuses on work and life anniversaries from the state budget and it guarantees them the right to negotiate about pay rises every year.
Originally, the trade unions had higher demands, but they eventually reached a compromise with the government.
“The government made the signature possible when it approved a compromise yesterday (on Monday). I am glad we have reached it,” Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) said yesterday.
The trade unions quit their demand for a 25 percent increase in salaries, but they want to start negotiating with the government right in January.
The higher collective agreement was signed by leaders of the trade unions of state bodies and organisations, education and health care. The head of the union of the civilian staff of the military will sign the document additionally.
Sobotka said the agreement covers 69,000 civil servants.
