January 23, 2018
The STA reports on January 23, 2018, that almost five years since the last general strike in the public sector, trade unions representing various types of public employees will stage a strike on Wednesday, although it remains unclear what its extent or impact will be.
More than 20 trade unions have declared their support for the strike or the rally to be held in front of the government building at noon, without disclosing how many employees will in fact take part.
The unions represent employees in state administration, education, healthcare, culture, environment, defence, social care, justice and professional fire-fighters.
The unions say that by concluding separate pay agreements with individual groups of professions, primarily doctors, the government has disrupted the established ratios in the singe pay system.
They want the system restored so that wages are also raised for the rest. They demand the remaining pay disparities in the system tackled after talks with the government on the issue collapsed.
For those above the 26th of the 65 pay brackets, they expect a raise by between three and four brackets and for those below, for whom raises have already been agreed, an increase by two brackets.
A further demand is that the remaining austerity measures be scrapped, including a 8% cut in pay implemented through the 2012 omnibus austerity act. Some unions also want better working conditions.
Apart from the group opting for the strike on Wednesday, separate strikes have been announced for February by unions representing teachers, police officers and health care and social care staff.
The government has valued the strike demands at almost a billion euro, saying that meeting all of them would be impossible and ruling out talks on an across-the-board rise by two to four brackets.
The strike does not enjoy support from the public, while business associations said that wages should be raised through lower taxation of labour, not raises that would only hurt the economy.
Strike activities on Wednesday will depend on the nature of work in each group of employees, and will be held at the work place. Those whose right to strike is limited or banned will take part in the rally.
It is hard to assess what the impact of the strike will be, because it is not clear how many employees will take part, especially as some groups are also represented by rival unions, which plan strikes for February.
A classic form of strike in the public sector is almost impossible with limitations for those working in divisions such as healthcare, the army or customs service.
Trade unions in healthcare say the strike will be adjusted to have the minimum possible impact on patients. They will only scrap some non-urgent services for those between 18 and 65 years of age.
At Slovenia's largest hospital, UKC Ljubljana, support services will attend only to urgent work and cleaners will only clean hospital rooms, but will not take away rubbish.
Public pharmacies will be on strike between 10 AM and 1 PM when the service will be provided on the basis of out-of-hours duty.
This means that only drugs prescribed on the same day or urgent non-prescription drugs such as those treating pain or fever will be dispensed.
University lectures will mostly be cancelled, but not long-planned exams. Some of the higher education libraries, general libraries, theatres and archives will be closed, as will some kindergartens.
Staff at the public broadcaster RTV Slovenija will join the strike by limiting reporting on news involving politicians. Due to the strike, parliament will suspend session for a day.
The strike will also be held at administrative units, the Financial Administration, the Surveying and Mapping Authority and social services, although some services will be provided.
The customs union has announced more detailed inspections, while vets will only perform urgent duties such as in the case of a disease outbreak and to protect animals from suspected torture.
Since soldiers are banned from going on strike, one of the trade unions representing them urged them to take a day off to take part in the protest rally.
PM Miro Cerar assessed on Monday that the planned strikes would not cause chaos as suggested by some.
