European Trade Union Committee for Education

Hundreds of teachers affiliated to the Free Trade Union Federation in Education (FSLE) demonstrated Monday, 18 April 2016, in front of the Government building, expressing their dissatisfaction with the low salaries and bad working conditions in the education sector in Romania. Teachers are not motivated to carry on anymore – a change needs to be made for the sake of the teachers and for the students.

"We have come here to protest against the proposed Law on Salaries for the Public Sector, mainly because education is not a priority for this government. We are very angry! This Government intends to pay a wage of 13,000 lei (2.900 €) to a member of Parliament and 1,300 lei (292 Euro) for a teacher new to the profession, when it is widely known that quality in education has decreased in the last years precisely due to the lack of qualified staff and resources. This low salary does not motivate young people to take up a career in the teaching profession.” declared Simion Hancescu, President of FSLE .

Every year working conditions of education personnel are worsening due to the lack of resources, increasing work-related stress and pressure on teachers and administrative staff, linked in particular to the high number of children per class (an average of 36 children, instead of 25 as prescribed by the Education Law).

Last week, FSLE requested to dismiss the current government and to withdraw the proposed law on public sector salaries which had not been brought forward for a dialogue  with the education trade unions. After FSLE’s protests, the labour minister resigned and the proposed law was withdrawn. Negotiations are to begin as of 25 April 2016. Demonstrations are going to continue, together with the trade unions from the health sector, mining and public services until an acceptable solution is found.