Romanian Education Unions Protest for Respect and Fair Wages

Representatives of the Federation of Education Trade Unions “Spiru Haret” and the Federation of Free Education Trade Unions held protest actions on June 17, expressing dissatisfaction with provisions of the draft wage law. According to HotNews.ro, union sources estimated that around 20,000 people would take part in the demonstrations, logos-press.md reports. “Enough! Education deserves respect! Dear colleagues, tomorrow we will once again take to the streets. We will gather in Victory Square to demand that our rights be respected!” the Federation of Education Trade Unions “Spiru Haret” said in a statement cited by the publication. Union activists planned to stage a protest in front of the government building before marching to the Parliament. “The recently introduced austerity measures and the authorities’ indifference toward commitments made in recent years are forcing us back into the streets. Without a firm and united response, our rights will once again be violated. (...) Every education employee has the right to decent social and professional conditions and recognition of their work through fair remuneration. Every child has the right to quality education,” the federation stated. According to union representatives, the new wage law would effectively “condemn” teachers to poverty. The draft unified wage law constitutes “a blatant violation of existing legislation, a disregard for commitments made to trade unions, and undeniable proof that the government, the President of Romania, and political parties are burying education instead of treating it as the foundation upon which the nation’s future is built,” the publication recalled, citing the unions’ position expressed at the end of April.