Workers of Czech power utility CEZ Bulgaria will protest for an hour starting 9am on April 3 2008. The workers failed to reach an agreement with the company's management during the March 19 2008  negotiations on salary increase.

Workers demand a 25 per cent hike of salaries as of February 1 2008, while CEZ Bulgaria offered them 19.9 per cent increase and a 20 per cent increase of overtime wages.

CEZ employees also wanted the collective labour agreement (which expired on January 31 2008) to be extended until the two sides reach an agreement on a new one. Another demand of the workers is CEZ Bulgaria to cancel the staff cuts planned for May.

On March 14 2008 Luboš Pavlas, the company's regional manager for Bulgaria said that by May 1 2008, CEZ Bulgaria's staff will be cut by 400.

Workers also want better working conditions given the eight fatal accidents among workers of the company in the past 12 months.

According to CEZ Bulgaria management the electricity supply in Sofia and western Bulgaria would not be discontinued because of the strike.