Education trade union members are protesting on Wednesday in front of the Government headquarters and Parliament, dissatisfied with the provisions of the draft new salary law, representatives of the 'Spiru Haret' Federation of Education Trade Unions and the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education inform on Wednesday.

According to union sources, approximately 20,000 people are expected to take part in the protest.

'Enough! Education demands respect! Dear colleagues, tomorrow we are taking to the streets once again. We are gathering in Victory Square to demand our rights!' the Spiru Haret Federation of Education Trade Unions stated.

The union members will protest in front of the Government building and will then proceed to Parliament.

'The austerity measures recently imposed and the authorities' indifference towards commitments made in previous years compel us to take to the streets again. Without a firm and united response, our rights will once more be affected. (...) Every employee in education has the right to decent socio-professional conditions and recognition of their work through fair pay. Every child has the right to a quality education,' emphasised the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education.

According to the unions, the new salary law 'condemns' teachers to poverty.

The draft version of the new unified salary law represents 'a blatant violation of the legislation currently in force, a disregard for commitments made to trade union organisations, and undeniable proof that the Government, the President of Romania, and the political parties are burying education rather than treating it as the foundation upon which a nation's future is built,' union representatives stated at the end of April.

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, according to a press release from the Bucharest Gendarmerie. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Florin Marin; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)

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