Romanian Public Sector Unionists Start Protests Over Cost Cutting Measures Thursday

Protests will peak on May 19 when about 40,000 people are expected to take to the streets in capital Bucharest.

Cartel Alfa union federation leader Bogdan Hossu said public sector unionists will decide whether they will go on a full-blown strike indefinitely starting May 25 or will stage riots similar to those in Greece. Hossu said the decision to stage a full-blown strike must be taken after talks with all union leaders, as public sector employees will not be paid their salaries during the strike.

Over 1,000 Romanian pensioners picketed the Presidential Palace in Bucharest Wednesday and called on the president to resign over highly unpopular austerity measures he announced last week.

Education sector unionists started protests on Monday and will picket the Parliament's headquarters until May 20.

Romanian teachers will go on full-blown strike indefinitely as of May 31, will not take part in national tests and will attend a rally of public sector workers on May 19, a union leader said earlier Wednesday.

He said the decision was made following a meeting with leaders of all union federations in the education sector and the protests will be joined by teachers in both pre-university and university education.

Teachers in Romania have staged repeated protests over wages and, most recently, had planned protests over the country's new education bill. The Government said earlier this year it plans to sack about 15,000 teachers as of September.

Education unionists declined Education Minister Daniel Funeriu's invitation to talks, saying they are waiting for an official invitation to negotiations from the Government.

Romanian authorities announced recently the country, which is relying on a EUR20 billion IMF-led loan, must slash public sector salaries by 25% and pensions by 15% and reduce unemployment and other social benefits in order to reign in this year's budget deficit to 6.8% of GDP.

Romania's Prime Minister Emil Boc called for 25% wage cuts for employees in state-owned companies, including state-owned banks Eximbank and CEC Bank, and a 20% cut in spending on goods and services in ministries, government agencies and state-run companies.

Union leaders argued the 25% wage cut for employees in state-owned companies breaches collective labor contracts, stressing this will determine experts with these companies to resign and more people to rally in public protests.

Romanian President Traian Basescu Tuesday said he decided, alongside Prime Minister Emil Boc, that the additional letter of intent to the standby agreement with the IMF, which includes the country's anti-crisis plan, will be adopted by the Government only with the prior approval of the country's Economic and Social Council.

If you liked this story, please follow MEDIAFAX.RO on FACEBOOK »

The content of mediafax.ro is for your information only. Republishing or using this content is forbidden without express consent of MEDIAFAX. For this consent, please ask for it by mail at vanzari@mediafax.ro.