Prima pagină » English » Wage Hikes Over 10% For Romanian Rail Employees Entail Layoffs – Minister

Wage Hikes Over 10% For Romanian Rail Employees Entail Layoffs – Minister

Romanian transport minister Ludovic Orban said Wednesday a wage increase of over 10% for railroad employees is only possible in the context of layoffs, and cutting expenses for maintenance and investments to hike wages is unacceptable.
Wage Hikes Over 10% For Romanian Rail Employees Entail Layoffs – Minister
05 mart. 2008, 11:05, English
Orban went to Bucharest’s main train station Wednesday after the warning strike to discuss with leaders of the country’s three rail transport companies.
 
"We have found a solution, it is the only one, we cannot change our offers and unionists should accept it because they know very well the situation of the rail companies, two of which receive subsidies from the state budget,” Orban said.
 
The minister added he is still open to dialog, but would take all court actions to declare a potential general strike illegal.
 
Orban added the protest was not joined by 50,000 employees, as the unions said, but merely 3,000, who halted traffic and gave the rest no other choice but to cease activity.
 
Orban said the 18% wage increase demanded by unions “translates” into a raise of at least 32%, which is unsustainable. He added any increase higher than the ministry’s proposed 10% would entail a cut in expenses for maintenance and investments, which is unacceptable as it would affect the safety of railroad transports.
 
Orban added union leaders "did not have the decency and honesty” to inform employees of the government’s proposal.