4.7.2022
In the next four years, the largest trade union in the Czech Republic - OS KOVO - will be led by Roman Ďurčo, the chairman of the VÍTKOVICE STEEL trade union. He was elected by a strong majority of votes by the representatives of the trade unions from the companies at the VIII. Congress of the union in Prague. He will replace Jaroslav Souček.
Roman Ďurčo was nominated by trade unionists from large companies not only from the Moravian-Silesian Region, but also from other regions. "Thank you for your support and I can assure everyone that I will vigorously defend the interests of unions and employees and the values of the traditional Czech industry. Our task is and will be first and foremost to make sure that people have decent wages and good working conditions in the steel industry. But my goal is also to keep the union strong, independent, solidary and united, and to combine the experience of company, regional and international trade union organisations," said the newly elected president of OS KOVO Roman Ďurčo.
Roman Ďurčo has worked at Vítkovice Steel (formerly Vítkovice) since 1995, has been the chairman of the company’s OS KOVO trade union since 2015 and a member of the supervisory board of VÍTKOVICE STEEL on behalf of the employees. He was a member of the regional council and the OS KOVO board and is active in multinational industry structures.
"We congratulate and wish the new president every success in his new role. Although his role is moving more to head office, his work with us will not be significantly reduced and he will remain the company's union chairman. We perceive Roman as a very strong, firm, yet understanding partner in negotiations, who understands the importance of dialogue," said Radek Strouhal, CEO of VÍTKOVICE STEEL on behalf of the management.
Roman Ďurčo won 128 of 181 votes at the Congress. He will replace Jaroslav Souček, who has been the head of the union since 2014 and did not run again. Before him, the union was led by Josef Středula, president of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (ČMKOS), who also has ties to VÍTKOVICE STEEL, having previously worked there.
The KOVO trade union has over 81,000 members. It unites workers of industrial enterprises, such as iron and steel works and automobile factories. It belongs to the member unions of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (ČMKOS).
