Education unionists protest in Bucharest on World Teachersaa‚¬a„¢ Day

Newsroom 05/10/2010 | 14:34

Some 8,500 education unionists protested this afternoon in Bucharest in front of Palatul Victoria over wage cuts and the government’s austerity measures. Protesters later marched towards the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Education, according to Mediafax newswire. Unionists call for decent salaries, the cessation of layoffs and investments in education.

“We are protesting today because we are in a desparate state. Education employees are humiliated and overlooked by this corrupt government that is driven only by group interests. We say today that this can go on no more”, said Aurel Cornea, leader of the Federation of Free Unions in Education (FSLI). He later added that following discussions with representatives of the Labor Ministry, on Wedneaday there will be negotiations over the unitary wage law.

Last week, Prime Minister Emil Boc said that public workers will regain part of the money they lost following the 25 percent wage cuts but “no more than the country can afford”.