Several hundred employees of the state-run company “Moldova’s Railways” protested in front of the Government Building on March 11. They showed their dissatisfaction with the salary arrears and demanded that their overdue salaries should be paid, IPN reports.
Ion Zaporojan, chairman of the Railway Workers Trade Union Federation, said the railway workers do not have political demands. They just want their rights to be respected. All the trade unions support the railway workers and they also received a document of support from the CIS trade unions.
Trade unionist Oleg Stati said it is for the first time that the railway workers seek salaries and this is not good for Moldova. All the trade unions make common cause with the employees of “Moldova’s Railways”. “The people from “Moldova’s Railways” do not know what will happen tomorrow to them,” he stated.
Speaking in front of the protesters, trade union leader Galina Proca said the Government, Parliament and presidential administration are the three poles on which the country is based. That’s why their demands are addressed to them. They ask to be paid salaries on time as well as compensations for the delays.
Railway workers from Ocnita and Ungheni said they haven’t received salaries for four months. Their pays are of about 2,700-2,800 lei a month.
“Moldova’s Railways” director Iurii Topala came to talk to the protesters. He noted the salary arrears to the over 9,200 employees total about 112 million lei. Asked when the salary arrears would be cleared, Topala said he is realistic and believes that this will happen in 15-20 months. He also said that the company he manages daily pays salaries and this can be proven by payment orders.
