{"id":4891,"date":"2024-03-19T09:43:21","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T08:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni-europa.org\/?post_type=news&p=4891"},"modified":"2024-03-19T10:10:23","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T09:10:23","slug":"like-in-romania-the-eu-can-and-must-support-workers-aspirations","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.uni-europa.org\/news\/like-in-romania-the-eu-can-and-must-support-workers-aspirations\/","title":{"rendered":"Like in Romania, the EU can \u2013 and must \u2013 support workers\u2019 aspirations"},"content":{"rendered":"

On 6 March 2024, UNI Europa, the European Services Workers Union, organised a political meeting between European and Romanian trade union representatives with European parliamentarians in Bucharest. Participants discussed success stories of Romanian workers organising for better conditions, national and European legislative milestones, and collaborative efforts that have empowered Romanian workers across various sectors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oliver Roethig, Regional Secretary of UNI Europa, set the tone: <\/strong>\u201cCollective bargaining empowers workers to have a real say at work, opening a path where strength lies in unity, fairness in negotiation, and progress in collaboration. It’s the cornerstone of democracy within the workplace, ensuring dignity, equity, and shared prosperity for all.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dan Paraschiv from Federatia Sindicatelor din Asigurari si Banci (FSAB) and Florentin Iancu from Sindicatul IT Timi\u0219oara (SITT) \u2013 both member unions of UNI \u2013 highlighted the success of collective bargaining in Romania’s banking sector, a testament to the <\/span>power of unity and negotiation in securing fair working conditions and rights for 25,000 workers<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Romanian workers\u2019 representatives mentioned that the ICTS, commerce and finance sectors will use the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wage to push for collective bargaining and set proper minimum wages.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They also shared the challenge of low collective bargaining coverage in the private sector in Romania. with many workers in precarious economic situations. Therefore, they consider the target set out in the EU Directive on Minimum Wages to reach 80 per cent collective bargaining coverage very significant. Their unions are committed to fight for achieving the target for Romanian workers. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vasile Gogescu from UNI member union Federatia Sindicatelor din Comert (FSC) recounted a legislative milestone\u2014<\/span>Romania’s 2022 law on collective bargaining and social dialogue<\/span><\/a>. After years of decline, this legislation allowed for a resurgence in worker organising. Its improvements for workers\u2019 rights include:<\/span><\/p>\n