U.S Constructor Bechtel Won’t Give Up Layoffs, Keeps Only 300 Employees – Romanian Unionists

U.S constructor Bechtel will not give up the layoff of the employees working on the Transylvania highway and will keep only 300 employees for the Campia-Turzii – Turda segment of the highway, Romanian unionists said Wednesday.

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Romanian unionists threaten with protests over the layoffs announced by the U.S. highway constructor.

Union leader Mihai Lup told MEDIAFAX Wednesday, at the end of talks with Bechtel representatives, the latter will not give up collective layoffs as Romania has not paid its overdue debts to the company.

"Bechtel representatives refused to defer the collective layoff decision, as national roads administrator CNADNR has not paid its overdue debts yet. They want to lay off about 1,600 employees and keep only 300 employees to continue works on the Campia Turzii-Turda highway sector," said Lup.

The union leader said unionists will start protests if employees are laid off, adding they might even resort to blocking the Transylvania highway.

Lup said unionists will try to hold talks with Transport Ministry representatives next week to get a straight answer regarding the finances that will be ensured to continue works on the Transylvania highway.

U.S. constructor Bechtel said recently all the 1,933 employees of the company who work on the Transylvania highway will be laid off as the national roads administrator CNADNR failed to pay its EUR214 million debt to the company.

The Romanian management of U.S. constructor Bechtel and local union representatives agreed Monday that works will continue on the 10.2 km Campia-Turzii - Turda segment of the Transylvania Highway, bringing the overall distance to 50 kilometers to be completed, as long as financing is provided.

Bechtel finalized the first 42 kilometers of the Transylvania highway, namely the Turda-Gilau sector, until December 1, 2009. Transylvania highway links central Brasov to western Bors on the border with Hungary.

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