750,000 workers on strike in Romania

Some 750,000 health, education, public administration and police employees have started a general strike in Romania today. They are protesting a new law on salaries, sackings and forced, no-pay ten-day leaves. 750,000 workers on strike in Romania The strike, which has blocked local institutions, county councils and financial services, is described as the country's largest in the past 20 years. Leaders of the unions are saying that the strike is a message to the political class that they can "no longer manipulate those employees who get paid from the budget", and are blaming the government for pay cuts in many sectors. The Romanian cabinet recently "took responsibility in parliament" for the new law on the salary system, without completing its negotiations with the unions first. Unions representing administration workers said they would organize a rally in Bucharest on Wednesday and a warning strike on October 23, and also set October 28 as the date to embark on a general strike that would last indefinitely.

750,000 workers on strike in Romania

The strike, which has blocked local institutions, county councils and financial services, is described as the country's largest in the past 20 years.

Leaders of the unions are saying that the strike is a message to the political class that they can "no longer manipulate those employees who get paid from the budget", and are blaming the government for pay cuts in many sectors.

The Romanian cabinet recently "took responsibility in parliament" for the new law on the salary system, without completing its negotiations with the unions first.

Unions representing administration workers said they would organize a rally in Bucharest on Wednesday and a warning strike on October 23, and also set October 28 as the date to embark on a general strike that would last indefinitely.