Romanian Unionists Complain Poor Get Poorer, Rich Get Richer

Romanian union leaders told Prime Minister Emil Boc that the unitary wage law has been applied incorrectly, as teachers earning 800-900 lei (EUR1=RON4.0929) have had their salaries reduced, while judges and prosecutors “at the top of the pyramid,” enjoy pay rises.

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In a meeting with the Government, unionists asked the prime minister to correct these mistakes, as the law's effects have contradicted its principles.

Boc said magistrates lose several privileges through the pension law, so the pension needs to be based on a higher salary. "I do not want to defend the magistrates, but their position in the system should be the one they deserve," Boc said.

"Cartel Alfa" union vice-president Petru Dandea said the ordinance providing a compensatory payment to maintain salaries at their 2009 level is applied improperly and results in a salary that is lower than in December 2009. Labor Ministry state secretary Valentin Mocanu said inquiries by the Court of Accounts revealed that parts of salaries had not been granted legally.

Boc added that the unitary wage law has corrected irregularities in the wage system, as many bonuses were provided without justification. The prime minister said there were more than 400,000 notices regarding these irregularities registered with the Court of Accounts.

Boc asked the unions to accept the unitary wage law and use the money saved by implementing the new system to fund bonuses for all public sector employees, not just certain categories. He said the draft law on the unitary pension system should also be adopted, arguing that the unions run the risk of "appearing to support privileges and luxury pensions."

The Government talks are attended by Labor Minister Mihai Seitan, Labor Ministry state secretary Vasile Mocanu and Finance Ministry state secretary Gheorghe Gherghina.

Unionists picketed the government's headquarters Friday over what they say is an incoherent unitary wage law and are disgruntled with freezing the minimum wage and the government's planned pension reform, which is pending urgent debates in Parliament.

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