Several thousand education union members protested in front of the Government on Wednesday, dissatisfied with the provisions of the new salary law project. The protesters headed towards the Parliament.
The Traffic Police are present to progressively restrict car traffic along the route of the participants, from Victory Square to the Palace of Parliament.
The authorized demonstration, scheduled to take place between 10:00 and 14:30, is organized by the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education, the Federation of Education Unions Spiru Haret, and the National Trade Union Federation Alma Mater.
The organizers expected about 20,000 people to attend the demonstrations, but according to estimates from the spotmedia.ro correspondent, there were a maximum of 10,000.
The union members have vuvuzelas, flags, and signs that read "How today's school looks, so will the country look tomorrow," or "Education cannot be built on permanent sacrifices."
Protesters also have signs with the photograph of President Nicușor Dan that read "Criminal! Motivated teachers with decent salaries. Quality education."
Photo: Spotmedia
Union members who want to buy protest supplies have plenty to choose from. Obviously, for a fee.
Photo: Spotmedia
The unions accuse the authorities of not respecting the commitments made to education staff.
Unions: The new salary law condemns teachers to poverty
Representatives of the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education argue that the austerity measures and the way the new salary law project is structured severely affect employees in the system.
"The recent austerity measures imposed and the government's indifference to commitments made in previous years force us to take to the streets again. Without a strong and unified reaction, our rights will be affected once more," the union members stated.
They emphasize that every education employee has the right to decent working conditions and fair pay, and every child has the right to quality education.
Accusations against the Government
The unions continue to criticize the new salary law project, which they claim represents "a flagrant violation of current legislation" and a breach of commitments made to the trade union organizations.
At the end of April, union leaders accused the Government, the President, and political parties of "burying education" instead of treating it as a strategic area for Romania's development.
Wednesday's protest comes amid increasing tensions between unions and authorities regarding the new salary grid and the funding of the education system.