Romanian Labor Min Calls Unions For Talks Ahead Of Protest, Unions Decline

Romanian Labor Minister Ioan Botis invited union leaders to negotiations Tuesday ahead of a major rally set to start at noon outside the government building, but union leaders declined saying the protest shall take place as planned and talks may be held afterwards.

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Dumitru Costin, head of the National Union Bloc, said unionists are open to any talks and negotiations with the labor minister after the protest, not at 12.30 p.m. when the minister invited them.

Over 10,000 unionists from all fields of activity and industries are expected to protest outside the Government building in Bucharest over austerity measures that include wage cuts and public sector layoffs. Protesters are then expected to march through the capital, passing by the headquarters of several ministries.

Similar protests also took place last week, most recently Friday, when thousands of police workers and prison guards demonstrated outside the Government but then left on an unsanctioned march to the presidential palace. Their action prompted the president and prime minister to renounce police protection, saying police workers had disgraced their uniform and undermined state authority, and culminated with the resignation of the country's interior minister, Vasile Blaga, on Monday.

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