April 26, 2018
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Thousands of Romanian health care workers on Wednesday protested wage cuts outside the government offices in the capital. Traffic was restricted in downtown Budapest as up to 10,000 health care workers from all over the country traveled to Bucharest for the protest. They threatened to go on strike next month if the government doesn't resolve their salary issues. Demonstrators blew whistles and vuvuzelas, jeered and yelled "Thieves, thieves!"
Romania's left-wing government recently approved substantial salary hikes for some state health workers, with some medics seeing their wages more than doubled. However, Leonard Barascu, heads of the Sanitas health union, said that at the same time some employees lost up to 1,100 lei ($290) of their net monthly pay.
Several protesters told The Associated Press they were angry that the government has cut compensation they get for working in dangerous or risky conditions. They said doctors had seen big salary increases, while some nurses and health assistants had lost out.
Psychiatric nurse Catalin Magda, who had traveled from the central city of Alba Iulia, said he had seen his monthly wage of 5,100 lei ($1,345) reduced by 10 percent. "We are not satisfied; we want the salary the government promised us."
Gheorghe Pop, 46, who carries out disease control at a hospital in northern Romania, said he had personally seen his salary doubled, but was demonstrating to show his solidarity with colleagues whose wages went down.
Barascu said unions would hold talks with the government on May 2. Health Minister Sorina Pintea met hospital chiefs this week and called on them to manage their resources better to cover wage losses.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Thousands of Romanian health care workers on Wednesday protested wage cuts outside the government offices in the capital. Traffic was restricted in downtown Budapest as up to 10,000 health care workers from all over the country traveled to Bucharest for the protest. They threatened to go on strike next month if the government doesn't resolve their salary issues. Demonstrators blew whistles and vuvuzelas, jeered and yelled "Thieves, thieves!"
Romania's left-wing government recently approved substantial salary hikes for some state health workers, with some medics seeing their wages more than doubled. However, Leonard Barascu, heads of the Sanitas health union, said that at the same time some employees lost up to 1,100 lei ($290) of their net monthly pay.
Several protesters told The Associated Press they were angry that the government has cut compensation they get for working in dangerous or risky conditions. They said doctors had seen big salary increases, while some nurses and health assistants had lost out.
Psychiatric nurse Catalin Magda, who had traveled from the central city of Alba Iulia, said he had seen his monthly wage of 5,100 lei ($1,345) reduced by 10 percent. "We are not satisfied; we want the salary the government promised us."
Gheorghe Pop, 46, who carries out disease control at a hospital in northern Romania, said he had personally seen his salary doubled, but was demonstrating to show his solidarity with colleagues whose wages went down.
Barascu said unions would hold talks with the government on May 2. Health Minister Sorina Pintea met hospital chiefs this week and called on them to manage their resources better to cover wage losses.
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