Romanian Govt. hikes teachers’ wages in a bid to end the strike

Romania’s government passed an emergency ordinance to increase teachers’ net wages by 18% (for the highest salaries) to 25% (for the lowest wages) as of June 1 and also endorsed permanent bonuses depending on particular circumstances such as remote locations, extra qualifications, pupils with special needs or extra duties, Ziarul Financiar reported.

The government estimates that the wage hike will cost the budget RON 2.16 bln (EUR 430 mln, 0.14% of GDP).

Teachers’ representatives rejected the offer on May 31 and have not commented after the emergency ordinance was endorsed (June 1 was a public holiday in Romania). A more concrete answer to the government’s ordinance will be available on June 6 when teachers return from the mini-holiday, trade unions’ leaders said.

The conflict could continue only on a radical note, but it is not clear whether the trade unions have enough support from teachers for this: many schools still continue to operate normally and, separately, failure to take the yearend exams would have serious consequences that can not be ignored.

The emergency ordinance also states that a subsequent law will address teachers’ requests in full within three years, with a 40% step as of January 2024.

At the same time, the government made clear that the negotiations with the trade unions have reached their end and stressed that it expects teachers back in schools on May 6, after the Orthodox Whit Monday.

Both ruling parties and President Klaus Iohannis stressed that the yearend exams should take place as planned, and no more delays will be accepted. President Iohannis even questioned the legitimacy of the trade union leaders.

He expressed doubts about the trade unions’ role in consulting the teachers and explained that this is why the government decided to put an end to the crisis by unilaterally enforcing the wage hike is believed to be fair.

“All the teachers’ requests have been addressed,” and “there is no reason for the strike to continue,” President Klaus Iohannis stated, according to G4media.ro.

(Photo source: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea)