site.btaMiners and Energy Workers Rally in Bucharest Against Pension Cuts, Demand Urgent Reform

Hundreds of miners protested at Victory Square in front of the Romanian government building in Bucharest on Wednesday, expressing dissatisfaction with the recalculation of pensions.

Protesters filled the area with the sound of vuvuzelas and chanted "Thieves" and "Down with the government." They waved banners with messages such as "Always sacrificed, never respected," "You took away the benefits we spent our entire lives working for," "Always victims. Never respected," "You have special pensions, and we are starving," and "We risked our lives, you cut our pensions."

Disgruntled workers from the energy sector also joined the protesting miners. Their slogans included "The most expensive energy is the one you don't have," "Importing expensive and polluting energy," and "Romania needs stable energy."

"After decades of work in this field, it's not right for the State to suddenly say, 'Your pension is now much smaller'. For years, I paid contributions from my salary, and now the State says, 'We’re only giving you a portion of that money,' a protester told BTA.

"We've spent our entire lives working under tough and hazardous conditions, and now our pensions are being slashed by up to 50%. It's just not right," another protester said.

Miners, energy workers, and other affected professional groups have repeatedly urged the Romanian government to take urgent measures to address inequalities and protect the rights of those working in difficult conditions.

The protest on Wednesday took place at the same time as a cabinet meeting. Demonstrators aim to start what they call "a genuine dialogue" with authorities to address issues caused by the new pension law. They have prepared a document with specific demands for discussion. If their demands are not met, they plan to call for a general strike.

On September 26, about 200 members of the Federation of Railway Transport Trade Unions of Romania protested against the new Pension Act in front of the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity in Bucharest. They argued that the law benefits retirees who worked under normal conditions for the longest time but disadvantages those working in collectives and people with disabilities. Union members and retirees have pledged to organize a large-scale protest in front of the government building on October 25 if the inequalities in the Pension Law are not resolved by then.