Teachers Warn of Protests Over Romania's New Salary Law, Threaten PNRR Funds

Romanian teachers' unions are vehemently protesting the government's proposed salary law, warning that it could lead to significant unrest within the education system. Simion Hăncescu, president of the Free Trade Unions Federation in Education, stated that the current draft fails to meet the commitments made by the government following a major strike in 2023.

During the 2023 strike, which saw around 100,000 people protest and lasted three weeks, the government pledged to establish salary scales in the new law. These scales were intended to ensure a debutant teacher's salary starts at the gross national average, which is currently 8,600 lei gross. Unions also negotiated a draft salary scale in April with the Ministry of Labor and the World Bank, which aligned the debutant salary with the gross national average.

However, the current proposal offers a mere 240 lei net bonus (approximately 10% of the 4,100 lei reference value) for teachers who also act as class advisors. This amount is considered a significant shortfall by the unions. The proposed law also differentiates coefficients based on teaching grade, seniority, and academic qualifications, with coefficients for teachers with over 25 years of experience and a Grade I teaching degree reaching a maximum of 2.38, while beginners receive 1.90.

Hăncescu criticized the current version of the salary grid, arguing that its adoption would violate clear obligations in current legislation and the promises made to educators. The unions are particularly concerned that the proposed law ignores these commitments, potentially leading to further industrial action. The federation's stance suggests a deep dissatisfaction with the government's approach to teacher compensation and working conditions.

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In 2023, the education system was the scene of a major conflict, with approximately 100,000 people taking to the streets and a three-week strike, held at the end of the school year, which was suspended only after the government at the time undertook, through Emergency Ordinance no. 57, that in the new salary law scales would be established so that the salary of a debutant teacher would start from the level of the gross average salary in the economy, which is currently 8,600 lei gross.