PRAGUE, April 22 – Labor organizations representing workers at Czech Television and Czech Radio announced Wednesday they are preparing for potential strike action in response to proposed government changes to how the state broadcasters receive funding, including elimination of viewer and listener fees.
The current ruling coalition intends to start eliminating the licensing fee system this year and transition both broadcasters to complete state budget financing beginning next year. These modifications would result in decreased overall funding for the public media outlets.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his populist ANO party made eliminating licensing fees a campaign promise during last year’s elections. The user fees had been raised last year for the first time in almost twenty years to a total of 205 crowns ($9.90) monthly.
The labor unions announced a strike alert Wednesday, which serves as a preliminary action before initiating an actual work stoppage.
Zuzana Bancanska, Deputy Chairwoman of the Independent Unions at Czech Television, addressed hundreds of employees gathered outside the broadcasting facility, warning that the proposed changes would result in widespread job cuts.
“Both media will be unable to perform their public service, which can lead to their demise,” she stated, urging citizens to support media independence.
OFFICIALS DENY INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
Government representatives, who have not provided immediate response, dismiss claims that they intend to interfere with news coverage, maintaining that state financing is standard practice across Europe.
Opposition voices have compared the proposed reforms to measures taken to establish political oversight in Slovakia and Hungary, the latter under departing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who serves as Babis’ close European partner in their Patriots for Europe alliance.
Leadership from Czech Television and Czech Radio released a joint statement Monday expressing concerns that the proposed modifications lack adequate independence protections, are poorly structured, and create opportunities for legal ambiguity, outside influence, and reduced editorial freedom.
Babis has previously expressed dissatisfaction with coverage of his political activities and business dealings by both public and private media organizations.
Media monitoring organization Reporters Without Borders characterized the proposals as disorganized, stating they were “pulling the rug out” from beneath the broadcasting companies.
($1 = 20.7090 Czech crowns)
