Czech public media workers call strike to protest financing changes

Czech public media workers have called a strike to protest the government's planned overhaul of a decades-old financing system that critics say cuts funding and leaves broadcasters vulnerable to political interference.

Workers at ‌Czech Television and Czech Radio said on Wednesday the strike action planned for Monday would be visible on both broadcasters, though they will remain on air. Hundreds of workers will join, they said.

The government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis' populist ANO party and including right-wing and far-right parties, ⁠agreed this Monday on a plan to end licence fees that have been the main source of funding for public television and radio stations.

It says most of the public do not want to pay the fees charged to households and businesses.

Instead, the government wants to finance the public broadcasters from the state budget and return funding to levels seen in 2008-2024, before a rare fee increase initiated by the last government took place in 2025. That will mean a ‌15% ⁠cut in financing.

Czech Television's chief said this week that it could mean forced layoffs of about 300-500 of the station's 2,900 staff.

"The government coalition has consistently been ignoring calls by a significant part of ​society and protests ​by Czech and ⁠international journalists' organisations, as well as offers for an expert debate," Czech Television journalist Jan Molacek, a strike organiser, ​said.

The government says it is not threatening the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio with the changes.

Opposition ⁠politicians and watchdogs say the changes are an attack on the broadcasters' independence. Reporters Without Borders said they also ran against EU rules on public media funding.

-Reuters