site.btaTeachers from Around Romania Protest in Bucharest Against New Salary Law
Teachers from around Romania gathered in front of the government building in the capital on Wednesday to protest against the new salary law.
Around 4000 rallying teachers, who had come from around the country, sounded whistles, vuvuzelas and megaphones. Some of them waved blue balloons and held yellow umbrellas, the colours of one of the major education unions, "Spiru Haret".
"Motivated teachers with decent salaries. Quality education", "Education needs solutions, not delays", "Education is the key. Don’t leave it at the door", "Without education, there is no future", "You’re increasing our workload and cutting our rights. It’s clear you didn’t like school", "We work, you steal from us", "Money for schools, not for your pockets", read some of the slogans on the posters the protesters carried.
There were also satirical collages featuring images of President Nicusor Dan and outgoing Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.
"Under the new salary law, more than 44% of teachers and education staff will have their salaries frozen or reduced," Spiru Haret Federation of Education Trade Unions President Marius Nistor said. He did not rule out the possibility that the protests could disrupt the administration of national exams.
The demonstration is organised by the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education, the Spiru Haret Federation of Education Trade Unions, and the Alma Mater National Trade Union Federation under the slogan "We Are the Voice of Education". The common position of the three trade union organizations, which claim to represent over 300,000 employees in education and scientific research, points out that, rather than correcting the anomalies of the past, the new law further plunges the status of teaching staff into uncertainty and unpredictability.
The protest continues with a march and demonstration in front of the parliament building in Bucharest. The event is taking place amid intense media interest and a heavy police presence.
/KK/
Additional
news.modal.image.header
news.modal.image.text
news.modal.download.header
news.modal.download.text
news.modal.header
news.modal.text