News online
Romanian railway workers stage protest over job cuts
13 May 2009
 |  |  view larger image | | | Railway conductor, Gara du Nord, Bucharest: one of many who could lose their job | |
Thousands of Romanian railway workers marched through Bucharest recently in protest over proposals to make swingeing job cuts.
The workers, represented by a number of rail unions - including the ITF-affiliated unions Federatia Nationala “Drum der Fier” and Federatia Nationala Feroviara Miscare Comercial - were protesting against the plans outside the ministry of transport building in the Romanian capital on 29 April. The government announced that some 12,000 workers’ jobs in the state railways would be axed, although officials later claimed only 4000 jobs would be affected. It has been reported that the cuts are part of restructuring backed by the International Monetary Fund.
The trade unionists are calling for salary levels to be raised to levels comparable with those in other European countries, job security and better working conditions. They are also demanding that transport minister Radu Berceanu resign.
Back to current news online stories
|
