Professors Take to the Streets Again: Large Protest Demands "Respect for Education!"

Thousands of Romanian educators have taken to the streets again, protesting in front of the Government and Parliament buildings in Bucharest. The demonstrations, organized by three major education unions, express deep dissatisfaction with the proposed new salary law, which teachers claim "condemns them to poverty."

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Enough! Education demands respect!

After months of warnings, including boycotting national exams and threatening strikes, educators are demanding that their grievances be addressed. The unions, including the Free Education Staff Union, the "Spiru Haret" Education Staff Union, and the "Alma Mater" National Union, are coordinating the protests. They argue that the new salary project demonstrates a continued disregard for their demands, despite promises made after previous nationwide strikes.

In a direct appeal, the "Spiru Haret" Education Staff Union urged colleagues to "Enough! Education demands respect!" The protest highlights that the educators' concerns extend beyond salaries to include a severe lack of investment in the education sector, which impacts both teachers and students.

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The new salary project represents yet another proof that the teachers' demands have remained unanswered.

Union leaders stated that "austerity measures imposed recently and the indifference of the rulers towards commitments made in previous years oblige us to take to the streets again." They emphasize that every education employee deserves decent socio-professional conditions and fair wages, and every child has the right to quality education.

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Austerity measures imposed recently and the indifference of the rulers towards commitments made in previous years oblige us to take to the streets again.

The new salary law is described as the "last straw." Teachers recall a large protest in 2023 where tens of thousands demanded dignity and fair salaries. Now, they feel forced to protest again as austerity measures reduce budgets without consultation, increase teaching loads, and threaten the elimination of various bonuses under the new pay scale. The educators are demanding their rights and fair treatment, rallying under the slogan "Education demands respect."

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Every employee in education has the right to decent socio-professional conditions and recognition of their work through fair salaries. Every child has the right to quality education.