Security forces protest against new legislation

In late February 2007, police officers and other members of the security forces took part in a demonstration against the Service Act on the service relationship of members of security forces. The Czech News Agency estimates that up to 2,000 people participated in the protest. Most of the protesters were police officers and firefighters.

Protest demonstration

On 27 February 2007, the first public protest of members of the security forces took place at Prague’s Výstaviště exhibition grounds. The Czech News Agency (Česká tisková kancelář, ČTK) estimates that up to 2,000 police officers, firefighters and other members of the security forces took part in the demonstration against the impact of the Service Act on the service relationship of members of security forces (Act No. 361/2003 Coll.). As members of the security forces cannot legally strike, only people who were off duty at the time attended the demonstration.

One of the event organisers was the Independent Trade Union of the Police Corps in the Czech Republic (Nezávislý odborový svaz Policie České republiky, NOS PČR), which is active in divisions of the Czech Police Force and the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic (Ministerstvo vnitra České republiky, MVČR). The trade union initially objected to the demonstration, referring to it as an extreme way of addressing the problem relating to the Service Act. The trade unions have also been meeting with representatives of the police force and of the MVČR to discuss making appropriate changes to the Service Act.

The event organisers attended the protest gathering, along with representatives of the trade unions and former Interior Minister František Bublan, the Chair of the Committee for Defence and Security of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament (Poslanecká sněmovna Parlamentu České republiky, PS PČR), Jan Vidím, and members of the Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická, ČSSD). Those in attendance signed ‘Manifesto 361’, which takes its name from the act number of the new service legislation. The document, which was addressed to the politicians responsible for the current situation, sums up the objections of members of the security corps to the new legislation. However, no representatives of the MVČR turned up at the demonstration, although they had originally promised to do so.

Provisions of new act

The new legislation introduced changes in relation to the rules governing the service of police officers, firefighters, members of the prison service and customs officers, which came into force at the beginning of 2007. Of the 72,000 persons affected by the law, the largest group is made up of police officers, estimated at about 47,000 employees. One of the main reasons for their dissatisfaction is the decrease in their salaries as a result of the new legislation; according to the police administration, this affects around 5,000 people. Regular police officers are particularly affected, with the largest salary cuts facing those who have served in the force for only a short period of time and who are classed in the lowest salary range. Others, mainly officials, will see marked wage improvements. The opposition ČSSD party supported the criticisms made by police officers in a press release: ‘The ČSSD is prepared to support an amendment to the act that would lead to a more equitable distribution of increased funding among all police officers, with an emphasis on officers serving on the front line.’

The new legislation abolishes extra pay for holiday, weekend and night duty, although it does provide for longer holiday leave, shortening the working week and creating a health rehabilitation entitlement. Another unpopular legislative change stipulates that the right to compensation for overtime is contingent on having worked 150 overtime hours. The three-year probationary period was also an object of criticism, as not only all newly-hired officers are required to serve this term, but also those already hired who have not yet served three years.

Retirement of police officers

The Service Act has already resulted in the retirement of police officers. Since the act’s introduction, police ranks have grown noticeably thinner: more than a 1,000 experienced police officers have returned to civilian life due to the advantageous retirement system which is based on years of service. According to the Chief of Police, Vladislav Husák, the largest group of retirees – over 30% – worked in criminal policing and investigation divisions. The second largest group to leave the force is made up of police officers from local public order services and railway police. The Governor of Central Bohemia, Petr Bendl, stated: ‘I am not in a position to assess how much harm the current wave of retirements is doing; that is a question for the Ministry of Interior. It is essential for us to have enough traffic police, on-the-beat officers and people who are skilled and experienced in keeping order in the cities and other communities. Strengthening the police corps is important for us.’ A large proportion of the regional and district police superintendents have acknowledged that, although there are still sufficient people interested in joining the police force, it will take three years or more for such candidates to acquire the experience needed to be used to full advantage in the field.

Jaroslav Hála, Research Institute for Labour and Social Affairs