site.btaUPDATED Non-medical Staff of Healthcare Institutions Protest in Romania Over Low Pay, Leave Benefits
Representatives of TESA (National Federation of Free Technical-Economic-Administrative Trade Unions from the Sanitary and Spa Units in Romania), the trade union that supports technical and administrative staff in Romania's healthcare institutions, sounded sirens and vuvuzelas at the Labour Ministry in Bucharest. They waved placards with the slogans "We are not slaves of the health system", "Stop discrimination", and "Enough". Protesters are supported by the Trade Union of Retired Military. The protest is the first one since the new government of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu officially took office.
The workers are demanding that their salaries and leave benefits be made equal to those of medical staff in hospitals and that they receive holiday vouchers paid for with money from the state budget. The protesters also want a return to the tax-free meal allowance by providing cards or food vouchers updated to LEI 40 per day, and an increase in wages for those who work in hazardous conditions and environments with risk - for example, infectious disease hospitals or psychiatric wards.
"The time of stalling is over. The government is not giving us a pay rise, using Brussels as an excuse. That's why we have come with the EU flag. We are not third class, we are European citizens. We are fed up with being treated like a poor man's club," one of the demonstrators told BTA. "The true aim of the government is to continue taxing the labour of Romanian slaves, and not the profits of foreign masters," they added.
Protesters also presented their demands to Labour Minister Marius Budai, who unexpectedly came to them.
"We want open negotiations with you. We don't want to disrupt the healthcare process. But it's not fair to get as much as one sanitation worker," TESA union representative told Budai.
"I know your job as trade unionists is to always be dissatisfied. And you've been doing that for years. But I'm open to discussions with you," Budai said in turn. He added that he did not want to make vain promises but was ready to seek a balanced joint solution. Budai promised to hold talks on the issue with the health and finance ministers as soon as possible.
"However, remember that we have to comply with the goals set in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan," the minister added, after which he headed to the Council of Ministers building in Bucharest for a meeting with some of the representatives of the new cabinet.
/VE/
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