Czech Television workers ended their six-week-long strike today after parliament chose an interim director for the public station.
In a secret vote yesterday, lawmakers chose Jiri Balvin, a Czech Television veteran, as interim director. They also removed several top management officials -- a demand of the strikers who believed the station had become overly-politicised.
The strike committee and Balvin signed an agreement this morning to end the action. Moments later, the on strike sign that had become a fixture of the superimposed CT logo on televisions disappeared.
The agreement ensures that none of the employees who were on strike will lose their jobs.
The strike by station employees was sparked by the appointment of Mr Jiri Hodac as the station's director-general December 20.
Hodac subsequently resigned, blaming ill health, but there was little doubt he had succumbed to mounting pressure, there was huge public support for the strikers, over accusations of political bias, which he denied.
The television staff say Hodac was a political stooge chosen to slant news coverage in favour of the two main political parties.
Reuters