Romanian Transporters To Go On Strike On May 31

FORT will be joining the protest of railway transport unionists, thus bringing shuttle services across the country to a halt, union leader Augustin Hagiu said in a press release issued Friday. Hagiu added that transportation unionists will protest „against the anti-measures prepared by the Government”.

Transportation unionists also called for the extension of their transportation licenses, as previously discussed with lawmakers on January 21, and asked that the Government stop the abusive measures taken by county and local authorities. According to the press release, they also demanded the Transportation Ministry reimburse passenger transport operators for the discounts they granted to veterans and pensioners.

Unionists said shuttle service operations will only be resumed after their demands are met.

The president of the Romanian confederation of free unions „Fratia”, Marius Petcu, said Thursday that the unionists’ May 31 general strike could be followed by successive protests staged by public sector employees in several fields of activity.

Teachers, railway workers and public administration workers have already said they will go on full-blown strike as of May 31, and they might be joined by healthcare, subway and public transport employees.

The Government has pledged to drastically cut public spending to tighten the country’s budget deficit at 6.8% of GDP, in order for the International Monetary Fund and other international institutions to release a new installment of a EUR20 billion rescue loan agreed last year.