40,000 public workers in recession-mired Romania protest large wage cuts

[Joanne98]

Source: CP

BUCHAREST, Romania — Tens of thousands of public workers Wednesday gathered in the Romanian capital to protest planned government wage cuts meant to shore up the country's ailing economy, threatening to call a general strike if the cuts went ahead.

About 40,000 public workers, teachers, doctors and retirees blew whistles and yelled "Down with the lying government!" and "You have pawned our future," as they protested outside the government offices in downtown Bucharest. The two-hour protest blocked traffic in the city centre.

In a sign of the anger, economy minister official Marcel Hoara was booed and pelted with water and stones after he took part in a live televised debate in the middle of the protest. Police escorted him from the area.

Union leader Iacob Baciu said a general strike will be called May 31 if the government goes ahead with the planned wage and pension cuts.


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