„There are 20,000 of us here today; tomorrow there will be even more, so that the current Government will understand it must stop the austerity measures,” said Petcu, president of the CNSLR-Fratia union confederation.
The unionists protested in Bucharest’s Revolutiei Square for about two hours, then at 3 p.m. marched to Victoriei Square, the headquarters of the Government, where they will stay until 7 p.m.
According to gendarmes, around 10,000 protesters have assembled in the square.
The rally was started at noon by members of the Sanitas Federation of healthcare unions. At 1 p.m. they were joined by other union federations affiliated with CNSLR-Fratia. Unionists in the oil, aviation, railway and education sectors, as well as unions of drivers and of public clerks, are also taking part in the protest.
Two union delegations – one from Sanitas and one from CNSLR-Fratia – were called in at 1 p.m. for talks with Labor Minister Ioan Botis.