Romanian Ambulance Services To Protest Countrywide Wednesday Over Unitary Pay Law

Unionists are displeased with the communication and negotiation of the draft unitary pay law and demand the increase, by at least one point, of the wage quotient set for ambulance staff.

They are also dissatisfied that the Romanian health care system was set on a lower level compared to other public institutions in terms of financing and wages and accused the Health Ministry of failing to consult with all union federations that signed the general collective labor contract for the health care sector.

The union federation said protests will be organized Wednesday by all ambulance services across the country, but emergency services will continue to be provided, as only staff that is off duty will attend the protests.

The federation on Wednesday urged the government to postpone assuming responsibility before Parliament for the unitary pay law, threatening protests countrywide unless it is invited to talks by September 15. Union officials said at that time they are upset they had not been consulted on the unitary pay law, although the Health Ministry had promised to consult them based on a protocol signed mid-July.

Ambulance unionists also said the Sanitas union federation does not represent the entire staff in the public health care system, but only part of nurses in hospitals and contested the statements of Sanitas leader Marius Petcu, who said Tuesday, after talks with the government, that health care system employees were happy with the final form of the draft unitary pay law.

Romanian Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Friday after talks at the Ministry of Labor that the draft law has been completed, adding he is confident the law would solve most of the issues raised during negotiations and will satisfy staff in the judiciary, health care, education and administration.