site.btaRomania's Railway Trade Union Representatives Protest Against Pension Recalculation

Around 200 people from the Free and Independent Trade Union Federation of Train Drivers of Romania staged a protest rally in front of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection here on Thursday. The main reason for the protesters’ dissatisfaction is the new Pension Act. 

According to protesters, the new Pension Act gives obvious benefits to pensioners who have worked under normal working conditions and for as long as possible, but disadvantages those working in collectives and people with disabilities, who received significantly lower pensions after the recalculation.

The demonstrators chanted "thieves", played vuvuzelas in front of the Ministry building, waved the Romanian flag with a ripped hole in the middle (a symbol of the Romanian revolution) and placards reading "Shutdown the government", "We put an end to national betrayals, to economy destruction, to corruption", "This is us and we are fighting for you as well". 

The rally was also attended by other civil society organizations representing pensioners affected by the new Pension Act, including those from agriculture and retired military personnel.