Romanian health union suspends strike, gives politics a chance

Romania's Sanitas Federation announced the suspension of its general strike in the public health and social assistance sector, signaling a potential de-escalation of labor disputes. The National Council of the organization determined that key objectives of the protest have been achieved, prompting the decision to pause further industrial action.

Union leaders emphasized that the strike is not officially concluded but merely suspended. This pause is intended to give politicians an opportunity to resume negotiations regarding a new salary law. The Sanitas Federation stated that if solutions to their demands are not found during this period, they retain the legal right to restart the general strike without needing to repeat the initial procedural steps.

Among the perceived successes highlighted by the union is the approval in the Chamber of Deputies of an amendment to the Health Law. This amendment is expected to facilitate the unblocking of vacant positions within the healthcare system, provided they fall within the approved budget limits. Additionally, the union noted that the project for a new public salary law has, for the time being, been postponed, which they view as a temporary victory.

In a message to its members, the Sanitas leadership conveyed that the protest actions have yielded initial results. They stressed that by suspending the strike, they are "giving politics a chance to reset and resume negotiations for a new salary law." The federation remains vigilant, prepared to re-engage in industrial action if their core demands are not adequately addressed through ongoing political dialogue.

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We are not closing the strike, but giving politics a chance to reset and resume negotiations for a new salary law. If in this time solutions are not found to SANITAS's demands, we have the legal possibility to reopen the general strike without having to go through all the stages imposed by law again.