Union protests in Bucharest

Several hundred federation union members from the industry participate at this moment in a meeting in front of the government.

They require stopping the calendar of rising prices for gas and electricity.

"Prices increase is fearful, especially at energy, and also the wage restraint. We are able to understand the price increases, but we cannot understand why wages do not grow. We are here to demand a minimum wage of 2,000 lei per month net and then we will discuss the price increases in energy, that's why we are here today.

"And I am speaking on behalf of the Alliance industry federations, which encompass a full range of federations from the entire Romanian industry, from mining to construction, from chemistry to metallurgy", said the union leader, Dan Cristescu.

There are protests also at the Ministry of Transport, whose headquarters is picketed by several dozen members of the Federation of the train mechanist.

According to our reporter, Alexandru Lancuzov, they require stopping the privatization of CFR Marfa.

Unionists believe that the privatization process lacks transparency and possible layoffs should be accompanied by active social safeguards.


Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea
MTTLC, Bucharest University