Romania

9-12 November 2010, Turin – 1052-022Establishing trade union actions to deal with the crisis Today, the economic and financial crisis is affecting all of the countries of Europe
and Africa, albeit in varying degrees, and it is an important topic – perhaps the
most important one – of public debate nationally as well as at regional and
international levels.

 Objectives:
The fact that the seminar participants come from a number of European and
African countries represents a real opportunity, during the course of the seminar
in Turin, to:
• exchange information around the topic of the crisis, taking into account, at
the same time, the current economic and social situation in the different
countries, the measures and policies adopted to deal with the crisis and the
main elements of the public debate on this subject;
• Carry out an analysis together and hold a joint trade union discussion
around the topic of the economic and financial crisis.

 Tasks:
Before arriving at the seminar, you are asked to prepare in order to enable you to
inform the other participants, briefly but coherently, about the situation in your
country with regard to the topic of the economic and financial crisis, to be more
precise:

1. What are the main characteristics (aspects/dimensions/impacts) of

the economic and financial crisis in your country?
(complete tables 1 and 2)
2. What are the main measures/policies adopted in your country to face
the crisis? (Plans to rescue and/or strengthen the liquidity of the banks,
plans to support and/or revive the economy, measures relating to the
labour market and social protection, etc.) What are the trade union
positions in regard to these adopted measures/policies? (tables 3 and 4)
3. How are the trade unions in your country tackling the subject of the crisis
and what are your organisation’s priorities in regard to trade
union action to deal with the crisis? (table 5)

This preparation regarding the national realities is important and this

information will be useful at different stages of the seminar.

Economic and financial crisis - Situation at national level

Preparatory work
1 2
Main characteristics of the economic and Main impacts of the crisis on the
financial crisis in your country: workers and the trade union
Aspects/dimensions/impacts on the production organisations in your country:

AS0
and financial systems and on the labour market
1. The further development of the black
economy
2. The lack of state support and
Government 'simpathy' for the labour
market
3. Instability of the economy and
continuous recession
3 4
Main measures/policies adopted in your
country to face the crisis
(plans to save and/or strengthen the liquidity of
the banks, plans to support and revive the
economy, measures relating to the labour
market and social protection)
1. The increase of VAT from 19 to 24 %
2. Reductions in budgetary salaries with 25%
3. Public employment reduced in 3 waves
4. 15% pensions reductions though the measure
was declared unconstitutional
5. increase number and values of most taxes
Areas seen as priorities by your organisation in regard to
trade union action to deal with the crisis
AS0
1. In order to avoid the increase of
taxes, most of workers tent to turn to
the illegal employment.
2. In Romania the Government and its
institutions tend to be of opposite
sides with the private sector and with
the workers in general. The
Government rarely negotiates with
results with the unions.
3. The unions and the private sector are
willing to participate in the strategy
development of the economic
relaunch. Moreover we often develop
plans and comments in order to help
the Government built future for our
economy.
Trade union positions
in regard to the adopted measures/policies
1. The private sector will be unable to resist
the increase of VAT. Hundreds of businesses
are closed everyday and the relaunch of the
economy fades away. The unemployment is
increasing.
2. The main problem is that together with the
increase of VAT most of the public employees
can’t afford to cover the domestic bills and the
bank loans. It is a not a solution for the long
term.
3. The system is indeed overpopulated but the
reduction needs to be done following
performance indicators and long term
objectives, not political affiliations.
4. It is cruel and illegal to reduce the pensions
of the persons who worked for several
decades. They have rights that must be
protected.
5. The re-launch of economy can’t be done
with no stimulation for the private sector.
The increase number of taxes and/or its
values is just another push for the black
economy to develop.
1. The problem with the return of the bank loans for our members is very important. Over
80% of the ones who have bank loans have problems with the monthly payments. We are
now working with the Bank Association and the banks themselves built a partnership
where both parts have something to win.
2. In the last few months we had meting and strikes in order for the Government and the
media to understand our problems, who work together to find solutions that we all agree.

3. We represent our members in the relationship with the courts of justice and the
institutions. We promote their rights and we defend them from illegal practices and
abuses.
4. We try to participate in any decision making in regard to the interests of our members

AS0