Strike wave looming as public sector pay talks collapse
Ljubljana, 30 December - Talks meant to tackle pay disparities in the public sector broke down this year after a successful first phase in which rises had been agreed for some 60,000 employees in the lowest income brackets.
Ljubljana
The teachers' union announces the country's biggest strike to date for 14 February.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA
File photo
Emboldened by strong economic growth and the upcoming general election, trade unions demanded more than the government was willing to offer. The government's negotiating position was exacerbated by the raises granted to doctors and police in the wake of 2016 strike actions, which disrupted the established wage ratios with other comparable professions.
As a result, the country faces an unprecedented strike wave at the beginning of 2018 with more than 20 trade unions announcing strikes on four separate dates between 10 January and 24 February, including firefighters, teachers, police and customs officers, and nurses. A strike has also been under way at SOVA, the intelligence and security agency, although authorities say it has not affected its duties. Valuing the potential pay rises at over EUR 750m, the government rejected the series of strike demands as unreasonable, especially as the public sector pay wage is to increase by 4% in 2018 anyway.