Collective Dispute in the Steel Sector in the Czech Republic OS KOVO Leadership as the OS KOVO statutory body declares from March 5, 2004 readiness for strike action, based on the decision of the Branch Iron and Steel Section, that has been adopted on its extraordinary meeting in Brno, 4. 3. 2004.

Main aim of the strike readiness is to get the Branch Iron and Steel Association (OSHŽ) to the re-establishement and continuation of the structured social dialogue in the iron and steel sector, which means negotiation about the branch collective agreement in this sector.

OS KOVO decided to take these steps which are heading to strike or strikes after 8 months of unsuccessful negotiation on the OSHŽ level, with the fact that the public institutions assistance proved to be inefficient. This declaration of the readiness for strike actions with the involvement of OS KOVO company trade union organisations in 14 companies, which have been covered by the branch agreement with OSHŽ till the end of 2003, will be sent to OSHŽ and to the managements of the respective companies, to the respective OS KOVO bodies, to the Industry and Trade Association of the Czech Republic, to the chairman of the Council of the Social and Economic Agreement and to the Czech Republic Prime-minister, to the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, to the Minister of Industry and Trade, to the ČMKOS President, to the Secretary General of the European Metalworkers’ Federation (with the aim to inform European Commission and partner trade union organisations) and to the Czech media.
Prague, March 5, 2004