Social workers' union plans strike

Social sector workers will go on strike on Wednesday if their union reaches an agreement on ensuring the minimum services required by law, the head of the Trade Union of Hungarian Civil Servants and Public Employees (MKKSZ) said on Monday. MKKSZ is ready to accept the government's proposal on minimum services, Erzsebet Boros told a press conference, adding that the strike therefore "depends on the government". Should the government make striking impossible by not establishing the minimum of required services, the union will declare November 13 "the day of social work professionals' confidence", she said. The union will hold talks with the government on Tuesday morning about their demands including a wage increase, she said. If the government approves a wage hike, the union will demand indication of its rate and timeline, as well as "a prime ministerial guarantee", Boros said.