Workers' unions unhappy about minimum wage negotiations, set strike for October 7

Several workers' unions in Romania representing state employees will organize a strike on October 7 to protest against the new salary law project. State employees could start an unlimited general strike after September 15 and workers' unions expect a broader participation than in previous such events, as more austerity measures have impacted workers in the meantime. The unionists are asking for an increase in the minimum wage in the country, which would put a stop to the tax evasion and to the illegal work. Some of the unions will ask the Government for a minimum wage of at least RON 705, which would be the reference salary for the public system. The Government's proposal included a minimum wage of RON 650, which unionists refused and labeled as a 'joke', as it didn't even cover the inflation. The current minimum wage in Romania is of RON 600. September will bring additional pressure for employees of the public system, who have seen their salaries dropping by 25 percent, which might send them protesting. Workers' unions have asked the Romanian Government to use the 2009 salaries as a starting point for calculating the salaries in 2011, rather than using the 2010 salaries, which are 25 percent lower. They say the salary drop was meant to be temporary, according to the Constitutional Court decision. Workers unionists say they are pondering larger street protest, reminding of the ones in the early 90s, when people protested in front of the Government, suspending work for a couple of days. romania-insider.com