Romanian PM Invites Union Leaders For Talks At Govt HQ

The meeting will also be attended by the labor and economy ministers.

The labor minister had invited union leaders for talks earlier Tuesday, ahead of the protest, but they declined saying the protest shall take place as planned and talks may be held afterwards.

Around 5,000 unionists have gathered outside the Government building, from where they will march past the headquarters of ministries of Economy, Labor, Interior, Health and Agriculture, in protest to austerity measures including public sector layoffs and wage cuts.

Bucharest Gendarmerie spokesman Marius Militaru told MEDIAFAX that the protesters will start the march after a BNS delegation hands the Government a statement comprising the unionists’ demands. Over 10,000 unionists from every economic sector are expected to take part in the march.

Gendarmes said the unionists are only authorized to gather in Victoriei Square for the march and may not stage a protest in front of the Government’s headquarters.

Similar protests also took place last week, most recently Friday, when thousands of police workers and prison guards demonstrated outside the Government but then left on an unsanctioned march to the presidential palace. Their action prompted the president and prime minister to renounce police protection, saying police workers had disgraced their uniform and undermined state authority, and culminated with the resignation of the country’s interior minister, Vasile Blaga, on Monday.