1. Arnošt Blumentrit OSD Executive Board member
Freedom of Association, Collective Bargaining and Social Dialogue in the Czech Republic
Arnošt Blumentrit
OSD Executive Board
member
ILO subregional seminar
16 – 17 Feburary 2010, Budapest (Hungary)

2. CONTENTS Right to organize – current situation
Right to organize - challenges
Right to bargain collectively – current situation
Right to bargain collectively - challenges
Right to strike – main results
Right to strike - challenges
International cooperation
Comments, questions?

3. Right to organize current situation (I.)
Českomoravská konfederace odborových svazů (ČMKOS) – biggest national confederation
(32 unions, approx members)
Odborový svaz dopravy (OSD) – workers in road transport, civil aviation and inland navigation (> 140 local councils, approx members)
alternative confederation (ASO), independent trade unions (DOSIA etc.)

4. Right to organize current situation (II.)
overal unionisation in the Czech Republic – 22%
no strict representativity criteria (3 members can create a union)
Coalition of transport trade unions (cooperation between unions)

5. Right to organize challenges
workers‘ representation system reeforms proposed (new representativity criteria > 50%)
tax reform (discounted travel passes, meal vouchers etc.)
pension reform (rise in pension age)

6. Collective bargaining current situation
overall collective bargainingcoverage – 44%
bargaining levels
company (strongest)
branch (rather general provisions / weaker)
branch collective agreement for roaad transport (2009 – 2012)

7. Collective bargaining challenges
workers‘ representation systém reforms (see above)
unions traditionally stronger in (ex-) state-owned companies, but weaker in private companies / new entrants (ex. logistics – DHL, FedEx)
lack of interest of younger generation

8. Right to strike major results
last overall strike 1992 (succesful)
partial satrike 2010 (tax on free passes, meal vouchers etc.)
current strike of health services

9. Right to strike challenges
plans to prohibit strike in certain sectors / minimum service obligation
new government reforms (tax, pensions)

10. International cooperation
OSD is affiliated to
European Transport Workers‘ Federation (ETF)
International Transport Workers‘ federation (ITF)
closer cooperation with Slovak transport unions (historical links)

11. Comments, questions?
… Thank you!