Romanian union federation asks all state employees to cease work over pay cuts

Romanian union federation Cartel Alfa called on all public sector workers Thursday to cease work and urged the Government to pay people’s full wages and bonuses and reverse the 25 percent pay cut implemented in July. Cartel Alfa launched a call for solidarity among all public sector workers after a spontaneous protest broke out Wednesday at the Finance Ministry over unpaid bonuses, which quickly spread countrywide to several sectors of activity. Wednesday's protest at the Finance Ministry sent a ripple effect and thousands of employees in tax departments, mayoralties, pension houses, social workers, postal workers and employees of the national employment agency staged protests across the country Thursday, demanding decent pay. The finance and labor ministers are in talks with union leaders to get people to go back to work and not block activity in state institutions. Romania implemented a series of austerity measures this summer, including a 25 percent pay cut in the public sector, to keep the budget deficit in check and make sure its EUR 20 billion aid package from the International Monetary Fund and other lenders stays on track. Mediafax