Trade unions want a Czech energy tripartite to address industry’s energy security

The Industrial Alliance of Trade Unions wants to establish an energy tripartite body. Representatives of the government, companies and trade unions would discuss securing energy supplies for domestic industry, particularly in the period after coal-fired power plants are shut down. KOVO trade union chairman Roman Ďurčo said this at a press conference today following talks between the unions and the Czech Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is, however, so far cautious about setting up the tripartite body.

The unions say an energy tripartite body would be a suitable forum for addressing the situation in the domestic energy sector, as coal-fired electricity generation is gradually phased out in the coming years. “We want to discuss at government level how to get through this period until new nuclear units are built,” Ďurčo said.

He noted that tripartite bodies already exist for a number of sectors. “The energy tripartite should deal exclusively with energy issues and how we will be able to secure energy supplies for industry in the future,” Ďurčo said.

Union representatives discussed the possible establishment of an energy tripartite body today with Czech Chamber of Commerce President Zdeněk Zajíček. He said, however, that setting up an energy tripartite body was not currently on the table. “There are already several bodies that can address these issues,” he said. Business representatives agree with the unions on a number of issues concerning Czech industry, including the need to address energy security, but they have a different view of how to tackle them. “And I’m not sure an energy tripartite is the right solution,” Zajíček added.

Today’s meeting showed, according to both sides, that business representatives and trade unions agree on the need to urgently address the problems facing Czech industry. In addition to energy, they discussed transport, infrastructure, education, research and the labour market. “These are strategic areas in which the Czech Republic must invest,” Zajíček said.