Trade unions reiterate intentions to protest in Chisinau

The trade unions reiterate their intention to organize protest actions in Chisinau after September 10. The hopes that the authorities will accept negotiating on wage rises proved to be in vain, the president of the education trade union, Ion Bulat, told a news conference on August 5, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Bulat, the officials make only promises, without exact figures, what is not a serious attitude. The minimum salary, regardless of the branch, should be 50-60% from the average salary. In Moldova the average salary is 2,600 lei, while some teachers get only 400 lei, Ion Bulat said. “We realize that in Moldova's conditions, raising the salaries cannot happen overnight. That is why we ask the Government to raise the teachers' wages in three stages,” he added. According to the deputy president of the Unions Confederation, Oleg Budza, if the Government does not meet the unionists' claims till September 1, they will organize protests. The trade unions ask that the teachers' wages shall be raised with 600 lei from September 1, with other 900 lei from January 2009. By July 2009, the teachers' salary should reach the minimum consumer basket. The trade unions announced the claim to increase the teachers' salaries on July 14. The teachers were intent to protest on August 4, but renounced because of the floods.