Bucharest, March 5 (RFE/RL) - Bucharest metro workers today continued a strike they began yesterday, as negotiations with the government fail to make any progress. Romania's Supreme Court has summoned union leaders to a hearing tomorrow on the legality of the strike. And the government is expected to discuss the strike and worker demands at a cabinet meeting today.
Prime Minister Nicolae Vacaroiu yesterday condemned the strike, which caused traffic chaos in the capital. About 6,000 underground rail workers joined the stoppage, which forced about 700,000 commuters to travel on the city's over-crowded buses.
The union is threatening daily strikes from 0400 to 1600 (local time). Workers are demanding a 48 percent pay increase to offset inflation, and better working conditions. Vacaroiu said the union's demands were unjustified, and cannot be met by the government.
Prime Minister Nicolae Vacaroiu yesterday condemned the strike, which caused traffic chaos in the capital. About 6,000 underground rail workers joined the stoppage, which forced about 700,000 commuters to travel on the city's over-crowded buses.
The union is threatening daily strikes from 0400 to 1600 (local time). Workers are demanding a 48 percent pay increase to offset inflation, and better working conditions. Vacaroiu said the union's demands were unjustified, and cannot be met by the government.