Update: Subway general strike suspended. Appointment of new Transport Minister awaited to resume negotiations

The subway strike scheduled on Wednesday will be suspended until the appointment of the new Transport Minister, so that the negotiations between officials and trade unionists with the ‘Unity – Subway Free Trade Union (USLM) resume, Metrorex sources say.

Metrorex sources said on Tuesday the subway strike would be suspended until the appointment the new Minister of Transport, after which the negotiations would be resumed.

The USLM trade unionists announced last week that they decided to start the general strike for an undetermined period from 4:00h to 16:00h on Wednesday, November 21, underlining that it hopes to unlock the collective labour conflict in order to avoid inconveniences for passengers, capiral.ro reports.

At the end of last week, the Bucharest Court ruled that the warning strike was not legal.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Lucian Sova was reshuffled and the PSD has decided, in the National Executive Committee sitting, that Lia Olguţa Vasilescu, who had the portfolio of the Labour Minister so far, should take his place. The proposal was rejected on Tuesday by President Klaus Iohannis, the name of the new minister will be announced by the ruling coalition soon.

Last week, the USLM General Council rejected Metrorex’s wage growth offer and decided to continue the labour conflict. The trade unionists demand a 42% wage increase.