Teachers plan massive protest in Bucharest on Children’s Day

Some 15,000 teachers, students, and parents might attend a massive protest in Bucharest on June 1, Children’s Day, as the Government and the unions haven’t managed to reach an agreement on salaries in the local education system during negotiations organized on Monday, May 30. The Government promised the unions to increase the salaries in public education by 5% in August 2016 and by another 5% on December 1, 2017, according to Simion Hancescu, the president of the Education Unions' Federation - FSLI. The unionists don’t agree with the second rise. “Our version was 5% in August 2016 and 5% in December 2016 or 10% in January 2017. We can’t agree with increases so small and so delayed,” Hancescu said, reports local News.ro. He added that he would transmit the negotiation’s results to the education employees, but he was almost sure that they would not agree with this proposal and wouldn't give up the protest on June 1. “We’re 99% sure that the protest will take place on Wednesday, because they’ve walked us around too much, plus the buses are already paid for. Something could have been done a week ago,” Hancescu said. The protest is to start at 12:00 on June 1, in Victoriei Square in Bucharest. A march is scheduled to start at 12:30. Romanian PM suggests 10% wage increase in education, unions not satisfied Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com