The CCR decision came during a march organized by over 10,000 education union members on Wednesday to protest the government’s decision to appeal a law to increase their salaries by 50 percent. In spite of this, union members announced they would not abandon their protest until the law is promulgated by President Traian Basescu.
“We are delighted that the Constitutional Court ruling was favorable, but will continue our protests if Tariceanu attempts to delay putting this law into effect, as he has stated,” said Marius Nistor, Executive President of the “Spiru Haret” Federation. Nistor also indicated that union members will continue to demand the resignation of the Prime Minister’s cabinet.
Calin Popescu Tariceanu insists there are no funds to raise wages and that the application of the law will force Romania into a crisis. Educational specialists disagree, saying that it is not the salaries of teachers but those of politicians that are a risk to Romania’s economy. “We do not fear a rise in salaries for professors from six to nine million old lei [RON 600-900], when dignitaries make thousands of euro,” added Nistor.
Economic analysts agree with union members, indicating that an increase in wages for teachers and professors is possible if budget resources are better administered. “Budget resources can be found, even for a partial rise and all civil service wages. Civil service salaries make up 6.5 percent of GDP, or €8 billion. An increase in wages would mean four billion, not ten, as the Prime Minister indicated. If we eliminate budget spending waste, if we were to have less government agencies, less employees, and smaller salaries we could find resources for the salaries of professors, without pushing up inflation,” according to an explanation for Business Standard by Liviu Voinea, Director of the Group for Applied Economics.
