The leader of the Education and Science Trade Unions Federation said the teachers initially put off the general strike planned for April 28 until May 5, but then gave it up. Contacted by IPN, Dumitru Ivanov said considerable pressure was exerted by representatives of the power on the teaching staff.

“There will be no strike because the power employed all its machinery and persuaded the strikers, by force,” stated Dumitru Ivanov.

Nadejda Lavric, deputy head of the Education and Science Trade Unions Federation, said the trade unions will have a plenary meeting on April 28. If more than half of the trade unionists decide to go on strike on May 5, no classes will be held in education institutions that day. “Trade union meetings on the issue are now being held in primary organizations, schools and kindergartens. The results will be summed up on April 28,” she stated.

The teachers were to go on strike on April 28 in protest at the fact that the authorities refused to increase their pays to the requested level. The Government proposed a 5% rise in salaries in the education system from September 1 this year. The teachers asked for a 50% increase, but then agreed to a 30% rise as of January 1 this year.