Romanian Parliament HQ Picketed By 100 Education Unionists

The 100 members of the Federation of Free Unions in Education (FSLI) and of the "Alma Mater" Federation staged a peaceful protest and carried banners with union logos.

The general secretary of the Federation of Free Unions in Education, Liviu Pop, said that the upcoming 25% public sector salary cut would reduce teachers' entry-level wages to 600 lei (EUr1=RON4.1641) after taxes. He added that representatives of all education unions will meet Wednesday to schedule the general strike and other protests.

Education federations have announced a two-week picket on Parliament headquarters, Tuesdays through Thursdays, over the announced austerity plan. According to Pop, layoffs have already been operated in the education sector, and 25% salary cuts would reduce the quality of education, as teachers' wages are calculated per student.

President Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Emil Boc, the Cabinet and party representatives met with public sector union leaders Sunday. The head of the Federation of Free Unions in Education, Aurel Cornea, said after the talks that he does not endorse the austerity measures, that education unionists will initiate protests and that, if the plan is not revised, teachers will go on strike at the end of the school year.

On Tuesday, Basescu and Boc will discuss the austerity plan with representatives of the Government, Parliament groups, labor and owners' unions.

Union confederations said Monday that a 40,000-person rally will be held outside the Government building in downtown Bucharest on May 19. Unions are considering a general public sector strike at the end of May.

Romania's CNSLR Fratia union federation leader, Marius Petcu, said after talks with the other four union heads Monday that unionists are trying to tone down the austerity plan announced by the Government and the President. If the measures are implemented without any amendments, the unions will call for procedures to be suspended by the Constitutional Court.

Romania's Cartel Alfa union confederation head, Bogdan Hossu, said Monday that unionists would decide after the May 19 rally if they wanted to start a general strike or engage in daily protests outside the Government building. Hossu said all union leaders must approve the decision to go on a general strike, as strike days will be deduced from the participants' salaries, resulting in even lower incomes for public sector employees.

Romanian authorities announced that they will not raise the main tax levels in order to meet the 6.8% GDP deficit target agreed upon during negotiations with the IMF. The austerity plan announced by President Basescu Thursday states that the salary fund will be cut by 25%, pensions will decrease by 15% and subsidies will be heavily reduced.

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