Romanian Lifeguards Start Go-Slow Strike Tuesday

During the go-slow strike, lifeguards will continue their work, but will wear white bandanas on their arm and will take warning flags down.

George Lipoveanu, representative of the lifeguard firm ensuring services for the southern region of the Romanian Black Sea coast, said he and his men have not yet received any money for salaries.

"I can’t sleep at night. I’m supposed to pay the guys Wednesday (Jul 16 – e.n.) and there’s no money. We’ve got loans to repay. The situation is pretty desperate,” Lipoveanu said Monday.

He added that unless they receive their dues this week, they are to go on general strike as of Saturday, Jul 20. Lifeguards are to leave their posts, which, according to the law, entails that beaches would be closed to the public.

The government said Friday it would analyze the issue of financing lifeguard services in the cabinet meeting this week and will assign the necessary funds.

The only Romanian sea-side resort unaffected by protests is Mamaia, where local authorities funded lifeguard services and are to recover the money at the government’s planned budget revision.