Labour minister heralds huge pay rises in the public system. What do trade unions say?

Labour minister Olguta Vasilescu announced huge pay rises for the public employees, with trade unions yet voicing discontent, arguing they are highly discriminating.

The Labour minister said that discussions with the public order and health trade unions would kick off on Monday, with incomes below RON 4,000 to double, and the salaries exceeding RON 4,000 to see a 45% rise.

“The unitary salary law is under discussion. We start having meetings with the trade unions on Monday, the first to attend discussions are the trade unions on public order and health,” the minister told a TV station.

Asked how much salaries will increase according to the new salary law, Vasilescu said there are several thresholds.

“The salaries below RON 4,000 will double, those exceeding RON 4,000 will be 45% higher. Rises are also for salaries higher than RON 7,000, but not very high though,” she said.

As for the public pensions, the Labour minister informed that “the next rise is scheduled as of July 1^st for all pensioners in Romania, when the pensions point is to increase to RON 1,000.”

However, trade unionists are discontent with the new form of the salary law, arguing it will not cut the high wages differences in the public system.

Moreover, no trade union has got the draft law yet, so they will have to wait for the negotiations to find out what the draft encompasses.

“If the salaries below RON 4,000 doubled, then the employees with the wages higher than RON 4,000 would have lower salaries than those who have RON 4,000,” said Bogdan Hossu, leader of the Cartel Alfa trade union.

Cartel Alfa is asking the Labour minister in an open letter to give up separation of salaries from indemnities, as the indemnities of the dignitaries, mayors, presidents of the county councils would report to the medium wages, while the rest of the public wages are retrospect to the minimum wages.

Cartel Alfa consider that the Government’s intention to separate salaries from indemnities in the new unitary salary law represents “an arrogance of the dignitaries”.