In Romania, thousands of healthcare workers have called for a nationwide strike over pay reform
Thousands of healthcare workers in Romania have launched the first nationwide indefinite strike in a decade, protesting a bill to reform the wage system.
According to Iulian Popa, head of the Sanitas union, on July 28, about two-thirds of workers at more than 400 hospitals and medical facilities stopped working for an indefinite period.
Due to the strike, medical facilities have postponed scheduled surgeries and other non-critical medical procedures, while emergency care continues to be provided.
The union is demanding amendments to the unified draft law on wages, which is currently being considered by the government.
Medical workers fear that once the bill is passed, their incomes may decrease and future wage increases will be limited.
“At the moment, we do not have a reliable and trustworthy negotiating partner, as the interim government lacks 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 union leader Julian Poppe.
The strike was a manifestation of growing social discontent with the public sector wage reform, which the government plans to complete by the end of August.
According to Bloomberg, the adoption of the reform is one of the conditions for Romania to receive more than 700 million euros in funding from the European Union.
The situation is complicated by the political crisis that has been ongoing in Romania for more than two months.
Following the Social Democratic Party’s withdrawal from the coalition and a vote of no confidence in Ilie Bolojan’s government, the country still lacks a stable Cabinet.
President Nicușor Dan has not yet been able to reach an agreement with political forces on forming a new government that would have the support of a parliamentary majority.
Bloomberg reports on this.
Earlier in Norway, the Safe union and employers reached an agreement to end a strike by workers in the oil services sector, which had been ongoing since mid-June and had impacted oil production.
