Romania braces up for new protests
Trade unionists in Romania are resuming their protests against the government’s social and payment policies
Bogdan Matei, 02.02.2026, 13:50
An increased VAT, higher fuel excises, taxes and duties doubled and even tripled as compared to last year, higher electricity and gas invoices, an inflation rate increasingly difficult to control as well as politicians incapable of delivering credible prospects for an improved situation. This winter is definitely not a happy one for the Romanians and trade unionists are bracing up for fresh protests against the pro-Western, four-party ruling coalition, made up of PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR.
Trade unions in Romania’s education system are already gathering signatures for staging a new strike, which is supposed to take place during the simulated national evaluation and Baccalaureate exams in March. Teachers are mainly dissatisfied with their increased working hours and pay-cuts. They don’t have an interlocutor at the Education Ministry yet, but the Executive Spokeswoman, Ioana Dogioiu has pledged that Prime Minister Bolojan will come with a proposal for the aforementioned position as soon as possible.
‘I cannot set a deadline, neither can I give you any name’ – she admitted, recalling that Education is a portfolio that belongs to the National Liberal Party. The Prime Minister has been serving as the interim, after teacher Daniel David stepped down in December. The beginning of a new school year in Romania had been marked through a series of protests mounted by teachers disgruntled by the measures aimed at curbing the budget deficit for which the government assumed its responsibility in Parliament.
On September 8, classes were cancelled in some regions of Romania, and teachers boycotted the new school-year festivities. Disgruntled by the measures providing more working hours and lower salaries, teachers were soon joined by the students who had also seen cuts in their scholarships and transport subsidies.
Neither remains the country’s medical sector quiet these days. Trade unions in the field have threatened with new protests amid fears of fresh pay and budget cuts. Representatives of the trade union Sanitas have announced they are considering an all-out strike where only life-threatening care will be available. Health Minister, Alexandru Rogobete, has said he doesn’t support any pay cuts for the medical personnel but he is pleading for performance-related pay.
(bill)
