‘The Romanian strike, the younger sister of the Greek one’ headlines the daily Evenimentul Zilei, which also reads that although they know they will not be able to take millions of protesters to the streets, trade union leaders threaten with the freezing of the entire budget apparatus. The paper explains that protesters are discontent with the pension law and also with the way in which the single salary system is applied, as this has translated into significant salary cuts for many categories of state employees. The daily Evenimentul Zilei also announces a strike of the metro employees and a transporters’ rally, denouncing the scourge of tax evasion in the field.

“A week of protest”, the daily Jurnalul National characterises the week that’s just started, as the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education have organised meetings and picketing all over the country, to protest for not getting their salary rights, which they won in court; they also protest against the layoffs announced this autumn. According to the newspaper Jurnalul National, teachers threaten they will freeze the school year, unless their claims are met. The paper also reads that pensioners too will take to the streets this week, demanding an increase in the pension reference value of 45% of the average salary in Romania.

The Government is heading us towards private pensions, reads the daily Gandul, recalling the recommendation made by the Romanian Economy Minister, Adriean Videanu, according to whom Romanians who earn more and want higher pensions should not resort to the state budget, but to private pension funds. The paper notices that a 35 year old employee will have to work for another 30 years, after which the state will provide him or her with a few more years of state sponsored poverty.