Large unions to rally the Parliament and Presidency. General strike could follow

Unions’ National Confederation Cartel ALFA, the National Confederation of the Free Unions from Romania, the National Union Block and The National Unionist Confederation Meridian will be rallying the Government and Presidential Administration’s headquarters starting from today, Thursday, May 13, until May 19, communiqué sent by the unionist confederations reads.

The union members consider unacceptable the current draft of the agreement sealed by the Romanian state’s institutions with the International monetary Fund.

The protesters will rally in front of Cotroceni Palace from 9.30 to 11.30 am and in front of the Government’s headquarters from 10 am to 12 pm.

The five large confederations have announced a huge protest movement for May 19 in Piata Victoriei, where around 40,000 people are expected to take part. They are also calling upon all the Capital’s residents who disagree with the proposals the Government made to the IMF.

If after the protests the Government is still not going to dismiss the incompetent ministers and to give up the measures meant to bring poverty among the population, the unions will declare general strike, the document shows.

Union representatives were invited to discuss with the President and in the Parliament last Sunday, when it was decided that the Executive would not adopt the intention letter for the IMF without the authorisation from the Economic and Social Council (CES).

The CES plenum is due to meet this Friday at 10 am, but discussions might be postponed for Monday because the unions asked the Finance Ministry to analyse the exact figures that ground the austerity measures.