Romanian PM, Unionists Fail To Reach Common Ground; Protests To Go On

Talks held Saturday between Romanian unionists and Prime Minister Emil Boc failed, and unionists said they would continue protests, arguing talks brought them nothing but empty promises.

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Bogdan Hossu, head of Cartel-Alfa trade union confederation, said Saturday, at the end of talks at the Government's headquarters, that unions told Boc they would never discard protests. Hossu added the Government is considering freezing the minimum salary in the upcoming years, which, he underscored, would only encourage tax evasion. He went on saying the authorities don't want salaries in the public sector to return to the level in 2009.

Hossu pointed out that funds earmarked for the education and healthcare sectors, which are of top priority, would be reduced until 2013. He said the two sectors will get only 2.3% of the gross domestic product, adding this situation would gradually lead either to lower salaries or to staff cuts.

Hossu said Cartel-Alfa will set up ample protests in the next two weeks, which will bring together about 26,000 people, and also urged citizens to take to the streets, otherwise, they will tacitly approve the Government's measures.

Ioan Baciu, head of the Democratic Union Confederation in Romania (CSDR), on Saturday said Boc only touched the issues that don't involve the granting of funds, adding he didn't accept any proposition regarding the increase in the minimum salary, which, he stressed, will soon be discussed by unionists and employers.

Talks held Friday between representatives of union confederations and Labor Minister Ioan Botis also failed and unionists said they would continue protests, as no concrete decision regarding their demands was made.

Baciu said Friday that talks only led to a new round of talks on the minimum salary next Tuesday, adding that, under these circumstances, the confederation will picket the Government's headquarters on Monday.

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