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| ROMANIA SEES WAVES OF PROTESTS 16/03/2010 |
| (2010-03-16) |
| Last updated: 2010-03-17 13:14 EET |
One of the big education trade union federations has started a series of rallies and picketing, against the planned redundancy of 15 thousand teachers this autumn, the annulment of certain salary rights and the authorities' failure to observe laws and court rulings granting them salary increases. Education Minister, Daniel Funeriu has promised to have talks with trade union federation leaders and Labour Ministry representatives, on bonuses and holiday vouchers for teachers and the enforcement of court rulings.
Nevertheless, protests continue to be staged, as teachers are threatening to freeze school year procedures, in the absence of a favourable answer from the relevant ministry. The fate of this school year is already uncertain in the Buzau county, in south-eastern Romania, where some 6,000 teachers have called an all-out strike for an indefinite period, because of the due salaries. In turn, higher education students are demanding bigger scholarships and more seats in student holiday camps. They also want to have a say in every law that concerns them. Farmers have also joined the protesters, and are demanding the payment of subsidies and smaller excises on the Diesel oil used in agriculture.
The capital city Bucharest is, as usual, the centre of protests. Passenger transport companies, taxi drivers and car instructors unhappy with the way licenses are granted have at the last moment cancelled the protests planned for Wednesday and Thursday. They warned, however, that they take to the streets in 2 or 3 weeks’ time if their demands are not met. Until then, on Thursday, Bucharesters who travel by metro will have to find another means of transport because underground employees will call an all-out strike. Last but not least, protests staged by the Cartel Alfa trade union confederation might start again next week, if its leaders fail to reach an agreement with Prime Minister Emil Boc on Friday.
Unionists disagree to separating the pension reference value from the average gross salary on economy, which in their opinion, will create a huge gap between salaries and pensions. Trade unions also stand against levelling the retirement age at 65 for both men and women, as stipulated in the Government's draft pension law, and are insisting on setting it at 63. Moreover, trade unions argue that women should have the option of early retirement, depending on the number of children in their care.
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