Czech police and firefighters' union demands 10% pay rise

The trade union representing Czech security forces has rejected the government's announced pay rise for police officers, firefighters, customs officers and prison service staff — according to the union, the increase will amount to 2,600–2,900 crowns a month over the next three years. The union is demanding a different approach: raising base salaries by 10% outright from January 2027, and intends to discuss the matter with the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior on 29 September.

What the ministry has proposed

Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar said on Monday that the monthly salaries of security force employees would rise by 2,600–2,900 crowns each year over the next three years. According to the union, 1,300 crowns of that amount will go into the tariff component, with the rest paid as a so-called stabilisation allowance. The minister said the ultimate goal is for the starting salary after professional training to reach 50,000 crowns by January 2029. The coalition government of ANO, SPD and Motoristé sobě has made the same pledge in its policy statement.

Why the union is unhappy

According to the union's calculations, the fixed 1,300-crown increase falls short of even a five-percent rise in the base tariff for the vast majority of employees, and for more experienced staff it often amounts to just 2–3%. The union stresses that it is precisely experienced police officers, firefighters, customs officers and prison service staff who need to be retained in service. The stabilisation allowance is set at the discretion of security force commanders and is not a guaranteed part of income — the union calls it a useful addition, but not a substitute for a proper salary increase.

Pre-election promises

The union recalls that before the election the ANO movement promised a substantial rise in salaries and benefits, regular income indexation, and bringing conditions of service into line with the military. According to the union, a five-percent salary rise had already been factored into the budget forecast for the coming years, so the current decision cannot be considered fulfilment of the pre-election promise. "Especially since it cannot be split in such a way that a substantial part of the increase falls outside the tariff tables," the union's statement says.

The union's demands

The union points to staff shortages and the departure of experienced employees, as well as the growing complexity of the job. It also mentions the decline in the real purchasing power of security forces' incomes in recent years due to high inflation. "That is why we are demanding a 10% increase in the base tariffs of all security force employees from 1 January 2027," the union stated. Discussion of this demand with the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior is planned for 29 September.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz