Romanian Subway Union Decides Wednesday Whether To Hold Planned Strike

Radoi said talks on a new collective work contract have begun with the company's management and will continue Wednesday.

"We'll come tomorrow (Wednesday) with propositions that fit within the budget and we'll discard strike plans if they are accepted," Radoi said.

Transport Minister Radu Berceanu said earlier Tuesday the Government will approve Wednesday the subway company's budget for 2010. Berceanu said he is confident the measure will determine Metrorex employees to give up the full-blown strike planned to start Thursday.

The minister said negotiations on the collective labor contract will start after the Government approves the company's 2010 budget, adding the salary fund will remain unchanged.

Berceanu also said subway unions want some wage bonuses to be included in the basic salary, adding the ministry has nothing against it.

Prime Minister Emil Boc also called on subway unionists to reconsider their protest plans and understand budget resources are scarce.

Subway employees said earlier this month they would go on full-blown strike on March 18, after a court ruled their previous two-day strike in November 2009 had been legal.

The Bucharest Court of Appeals issued a final and irrevocable ruling earlier this month stating the subway employees' two-day subway strike in November last year was legal, which means they may resume their protests anytime.

Subway employees went on strike last year demanding wage raises of 20% and a new collective work contract, as their old one had expired. They were forced to go back to work when a Bucharest court ruled it illegal.

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