ZILINA, October 10, (WEBNOVINY) — Trade unions in Slovakia continued with the announced series of protest rallies on Friday. This week’s event was held in Zilina in eastern Slovakia. Trade unions are protesting against the government’s austerity package. The metalworkers’ trade union march across the city center was attended by about fifteen hundred people.
„We have no more holes to tighten our belts! We want to live and not vegetate! and Where are the election promises? The SaS is having a party, the government is ruining us! Take from those who have enough!“ were some of the slogans protesters were carrying in the crowd. Among those who attended the march was former Labor Minister Viera Tomanova (SMER-SD) and head of Zilina County government or Juraj Blanar (SMER-SD). According to the trade unionists, government’s austerity package will increase annual costs for the average family by 400 euros. „That’s a package which is quite hard for ordinary people. Its impact is around 400 euros per year for a normal family. We are not against consolidation of public finances and cost saving, but the government should distribute the tax burden, lower taxes on food and everyday consumer goods, and on the other hand, increase taxes on luxury goods, as in other countries. We are for consolidation of public finances, but it should done otherwise. It is necessary to tax those who have the money – banks and natural monopolies,“ KOVO trade union leader Emil Machyna said on this occasion.
Machyna said that trade unions in firms used strikes to fight for better wages also during the term of the previous government. „But the previous government did not take such measures as this one. We were even willing at the time of crisis to accept lower wages in order to maintain maximum employment. That was a crisis, but today we have four percent GDP growth,“ said Machyna. He added that that further activities of the trade unions will depend on what is approved in parliament. „We will see what is approved in parliament, and whether our voice is heard or not. And if not, we are preparing further action. It will be a matter of agreement,“ he said. The Trade Unions Confederation plans its next protest gathering on October 12 in Bratislava.
SITA