Bucharest City Hall Unionists Call Off Strike

Gherdan said Bucharest city hall unionists decided to suspend the protest because strike days are not compensated, and also because only 450 of the institution's 1,000 employees went on strike Monday.

Bucharest city hall employees staged a strike Monday, during which the institution's emergency services were maintained operational, but were understaffed.

The executive president of the National Public Administration Union Federation, Romel Neagu, told MEDIAFAX that Monday's strike involved city hall employees, as well as employees of two Bucharest sector city halls and of the Bucharest public census bureau.

"Sed Lex" Union Alliance leader Vasile Marica said Sunday that 200 of his union members would take part in the strike Monday.

Several Romanian union federations decided to go on an indefinite strike as of May 31. They also announced local branches will stage protests between June 1 and 4, and a rally will take place outside Parliament headquarters on the day of the no-confidence motion debate.

Education and public administration unionists went on a full-blown strike on May 31, and were joined by healthcare, penitentiary and private sector employees, who staged solidarity strikes.

Bucharest subway unionists and certain employees of public transport authority RATB also announced they would go on a solidarity strike Tuesday, from 4 A.M. to 4 P.M.. However, RATB unionists called off their protest after two hours, citing pressure from employers, while subway unionists shortened the strike by four hours, at the plea of a humanitarian organization.

Subway unionists threatened Tuesday to go on a full-blown strike as of mid-June, should the Government decide to cut their salaries.

Romania's Government adopted Sunday evening the two draft laws which make up its austerity plan, involving cutbacks of public sector wages, pensions and social welfare benefits. The Government will seek a confidence vote in Parliament for the two laws.

Romania's opposition social democrats have said they will file a no-confidence motion after the Government seeks a confidence vote in Parliament. The Liberal Party, also in opposition, said it will back the motion, although it does not agree with all its provisions. Social democrat representatives have also said they would appeal to the Constitutional Court against the austerity plan.

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