Romanian Education Union FSLI To Sue Authorities Over Non-Teacher Layoffs

According to a FSLI press release, the Education Ministry said budget savings entailed sacking hundreds of administrators, stokers, secretaries, drivers, guards and clerks within six days. FSLI argues that the savings will be insignificant, since after a 25% wage slash earlier this year, these employees earn, on average, 600 lei (EUR1=4.2636).

„Furthermore, the duties of auxiliary and non-teaching staff will be taken over by the teaching staff, which is humiliating, if we consider that a janitor’s or secretary’s work will be done by a teacher,” said FSLI.

The Federation points out that the employers (school inspectorates), under pressure from the Ministry, did not observe the conditions of the national collective labor contract, which provides 20 days termination notice, or those included in the Labor Code, which provides 15 days.

The press release said universities are also facing a shortage of auxiliary and non-teaching staff, as 400 guard, janitor and cook positions will be cut.