Romanian Unionists Protest Austerity Measures In Bucharest

Around 20,000 people are expected to join the demonstration rally which starts in the morning in the capital's Revolution Square and continues at the Government's headquarters until the evening, prompting traffic restrictions across the Romanian capital.

Union federation leader Marius Petcu said about 10,000 demonstrators are expected to come from across the country.

Unionists demand that public sector salaries go back to the level in 2009, the minimum salary be set at 750 lei (EUR1=RON4.2670), for employees in both public and private sectors, layoff plans in the public sector be scrapped, the Labor Code remain unchanged and social protection be kept for employees facing massive layoffs.

Unionists also demand that the individual labor contract for a definite period, the collective labor contract at economic sector level and the sole collective labor contract be all maintained. They also want the current public pension law, the retirement age and the calculation methods of pensions to be kept unchanged too.

Also, unionists require that labor inspection law be amended, labor security measures be strengthened, public institutions and state-run companies be depoliticized and that the Government take anti-crisis measures meant to boost people's income and their purchase power.

Wednesday's protest is the first of a series of similar actions announced by union leaders for the entire month.

Labor Minister Ioan Botis invited union leaders to an informal talk Tuesday, in an attempt to get them to cancel the protest. Unionist had talks with the labor minister and Prime Minister Emil Boc last week, but decided to go ahead with street actions citing failed negotiations.

This week's planned protests take place in the absence of the country's prime minister, who is in New York until Friday at the United Nations General Assembly.

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