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Romanian Railroad Traffic to Be Halted Friday Due To Union Strike

The managers of the national railroad company passenger and infrastructure divisions failed to reach common ground in talks held with unionists, thus Friday, between 07:00 and 13:00 local time railroad traffic will be halted in protest.
Romanian Railroad Traffic to Be Halted Friday Due To Union Strike
04 nov. 2008, 16:25, English

Unionists maintained their intention to protest Friday, halting activity for six hours, as in the meeting held Tuesday with CFR representatives they did not obtain any guarantees that the budgets of the two companies will be approved. Thus the unionists are threatening to cease activity indefinitely at a yet unknown date, said Miscare Comercial union President Gheorghe Popa.

The union leader said the action planned for Friday is a protest for job security and for passenger safety.
 
Unionists are not optimistic regarding the approval of the two divisions’ budgets, by Friday, and announced that if the budgets aren’t approved, they will cease work indefinitely.
 
Popa added their protest is legal because any employee has the right to decide if they work or not, as long as labor rights are violated.
 
The union leader said 7000 – 8000 of the 34000 union members will continue to work between 07:00 and 13:00 local time.
 
In his turn, CFR Calatori general manager Alexandru Noaptes said, replying to the unionists’ intention to cease all activities, that unionists are compelled to provide one third of activity, even when on strike.
 
Noaptes added Railway traffic will be resumed Friday evening, even though activity will basically be halted only between 07:00 and 13:00 local time.
 
CFR Infrastructura manager Constantin Manea said any situation of this kind can be solved amiably. "Not all conditions for a strike have been met, there is time for analysis, their main concern involves the companies’ budgets," Manea said.
 
The two managers said the dialogue remains open and the two parties can meet again before Friday to try to convince the unionists to drop the protests.
 
The employees of Romanian railway company Caile Ferate Romane SA, or CFR, will launch a six-hour warning strike on Friday to protest against “poor managing decisions” regarding company’s infrastructure, unionist said Monday.
 
CFR’s management failed to allocate proper budgets for its infrastructure and passengers divisions, union leader Ion Molea said.
 
Molea mentioned company managers “started last-minute reorganization procedures based on criteria that were never discussed with the unionists.”
 
The union official said he repeatedly requested a meeting with Transportation Minister Ludovic Orban, but the latter refused any type of dialogue on the matter.