Rally At Romanian Carmaker Dacia Ended, Union Says Further Protests Expected

The rally was without incidents and Dacia union leader Nicolae Pavelescu said the rally on Tuesday was the first of a wider set of protests to be organized in Mioveni, southern Romania.

"We’ll keep organizing rallies the Government understands it needs to protect the auto industry, which is a large contributor to the gross domestic product, and the jobs in the industry,” Pavelescu said.

Dacia’s management and unions will have a meeting at GMT 1200 with representatives of the Government, the head of the Arges county council, the prefect, mayors of Pitesti, Mioveni and nearby localities, as well as lawmakers representing the county.

Dacia resumed activity Monday morning after a one month production halt, but announced only a few hours later that production will be halted again, for two weeks, between Jan 26 and Feb 8.

The carmaker said in a press release that employees put on technical unemployment will receive 85% of their gross salaries.

Dacia general manager said late Monday the company will not renew the contracts of 300 employees whose employment contracts expire at the end of January. Dacia already let go of 620 employees whose contracts expired late December 2008.