In Romania, healthcare workers have launched a nationwide strike
On July 28, thousands of healthcare workers in Romania launched a nationwide strike against a proposed bill on wages. This is the first such widespread action by medical workers in the country in the last decade.
According to “European Truth,” citing Bloomberg, about two-thirds of workers at more than 400 hospitals and medical facilities have stopped working indefinitely. They have postponed surgeries and non-critical procedures.
Julian Popa, leader of the “Sanitas” union, stated that changes must be made to the unified wage bill currently under discussion. According to him, this is necessary to prevent a reduction in workers’ incomes and restrictions on future wage increases.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
“At the moment, we do not have a reliable and trustworthy partner for negotiations, since the interim government does not have the authority to promise us any changes. Our greatest hope is to hold discussions this week with all political leaders, and we hope our demands will be included in the law,” said Pope.
The strike is taking place amid growing social resistance to the public sector pay reform, scheduled for the end of August. The reform is intended to unlock more than 700 million euros in European Union funds.
Romania has also been in the midst of a political crisis for over two months following the Social Democrats’ withdrawal from the coalition and a no-confidence vote against the government of Ilie Bolojan. President Nicușor Dan has so far been unable to reach an agreement with political forces on a government structure that would have parliamentary support.
