Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Thousands of Romanian health workers protest salary cuts

Thousands of Romanian health workers protest salary cuts | iNFOnews.ca
Romanian health system employees carry a banner depicting the head of the country's ruling Social Democratic party running a game of thimblerig, as they arrive for a protest outside the Romanian government headquarters, threatening with a general strike, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, April 26, 2018. Thousands, from across the country, joined a rally protesting against the income law and newly introduced changes in the regulations governing bonuses, which they say, lead to significant losses for the employees. Banner reads "In the nineties thimblerig was popular in markets and countryside fairs, in 2018 it's played in the parliament and government with the salaries from the medical system". (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

BUCHAREST, Romania – Thousands of Romanian health care workers on Thursday protested wage cuts outside the government offices in the capital.

Traffic was restricted in downtown Bucharest as up to 10,000 health care workers from all over the country travelled to the capital for the protest. They threatened to go on strike if the government doesn’t resolve their salary issues. Demonstrators blew whistles and vuvuzelas.

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, head 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.

Health Minister Sorina Pintea met hospital chiefs this week and called on them to manage their resources better to cover wage losses.

___

This version corrects the day to Thursday, not Wednesday, and corrects the capital to Bucharest, not Budapest.

News from © iNFOnews.ca, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

Abbey Westbury

Related Articles