Romanian PM Calls On Unions To Act Responsibly

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu called on education unions and teachers Monday to act responsibly, saying going on a strike is not the right thing to do and wages cannot be increased by 50%.

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Tariceanu added he will not accept to use funds earmarked for investments to increase wages.

The prime minister said the government wishes to have a dialog and find real solutions to fix problems in the country’s education system, adding going on strike is not a solution.

"I don’t think it’s fair for unions to pressure the government now, before elections. Such a wage increase should be decided by the future government and parliament, if economic indicators allow it. Such a measure is suicide, we’re leading Romania to bankruptcy,” Tariceanu said.

Thousands of teachers affiliated to the Romanian unionist federation “Spiru Haret” went on warning strike Monday morning after having asked the Parliament in a letter to meet urgently and reject the ordinance postponing a 50% wage hike for the staff in the education system.

The other three education federations - Alma Mater, FLSI and FEN - will go on a warning strike on November 10.

All four union federations in the education system will go on a general strike as of November 18 for an indefinite period, displeased with the Government’s decision to prorogate the enforcement of the law hiking teachers’ wages by 50% until April 1, 2009.

The Sanitas union federation representing employees in the healthcare system, threatened to go on a warning strike on November 14 and on general strike as of November 20.

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