Employees of the Cugir Arms Factory protested on Wednesday morning in front of the facility, dissatisfied that salary negotiations with the administration did not bring any additional benefits compared to last year. Union leaders warn that without an agreement, production activities could be affected.
Union leaders complain that employees’ incomes have remained practically frozen, especially as the cost of living has increased significantly, while salaries and pensions in the public sector are capped.
According to them, the situation is even more serious as, starting from July 1, with the increase in the minimum wage, almost 470 factory employees are expected to be classified at this level.
"We are in a situation where almost all of us will fall into the minimum wage bracket. We consider that the work these people perform is not rewarded. As you know, purchasing power has decreased by 30%. Employees have reached a point where their money is not enough to pay off their debts," said the president of the "Apărarea" Union, Ioan Neagu.
The Union demands salary increases and benefits
Among the employees' demands are a 6.5% salary increase, an increase in the value of meal vouchers, and the granting of holiday vouchers. Union representatives argue that current salaries do not reflect the level of qualification and strategic importance of the activities carried out in the defense industry.
"For our union members, for the employees of the arms factory, we have obtained absolutely nothing in addition to what we had in 2025," Neagu added.
"We will not attract young people with the minimum wage"
The union leader warns that the defense industry risks losing even more attractiveness for young people if salaries remain at such a low level.
"The minimum wage for us means the wage for an unskilled worker. We will equate those with higher education with the unskilled ones. We will never attract young people willing to come and work in these defense industry companies with the minimum wage," said Ioan Neagu.
He added that the factory produces high-quality weaponry, but the development and promotion of products depend on decisions made at the state level.
"The SAFE program, which was anticipated for us, was a failure. The program was not signed by May 31. It seems that the interests were as big as the cheese, and that's why it ended in failure," added the union leader.
Strike during negotiations with a German manufacturer
The protest comes at an important moment for the company, amid negotiations with the German arms manufacturer J.P. Sauer & Sohn GmbH, discussions that could influence the future of the Cugir Arms Factory.
The union states that it remains open to dialogue but demands swift measures to address the demands and warns that the lack of an agreement could affect production.