Railway workers will go out to protest on February 14 and 28 in a number of localities in Moldova. The chairman of the Trade Union Federation of Railway Workers Ion Zaporojan told IPN that the allocation of financial sources from the state, as provided by the legislation, and the saving of a strategic facility – Moldova’s Railways – will be requested. He stressed that protests will be mounted until the railway workers are heard.
Zaporojan said that for ten years measures have been taken to draw the authorities’ attention to the important role played by Moldova’s Railways - a strategic facility that must be saved. Although the state administration and competent institutions know the problems faced by the railway workers and the state-run enterprise from numerous official requests and conversations, no one has rolled up their sleeves to save the situation.
The Federation’s chairman noted that money from the budget must be allocated according to the legislation. Since last February, the state was supposed to allocate 400 million lei annually for infrastructure maintenance and 80 million lei for transporting passengers by local trains, but no money was allocated to save the enterprise. If this money had been allocated, the situation would not have been like this.
He also said that the knife has reached the bone as the railway workers for five months haven’t been remunerated to buy food, to give food to their children who go to school. "We can no longer endure such a situation," stressed the head of the Trade Union Federation of Railway Workers.
Ion Zaporojan said that the protests will be organized on February 14 and 28 and then twice a month, until they are heard. The demonstrations will take place at all railway stations, in Ocnita, Balti, Ungheni, Chisinau, Bender, Basarabeasca and Giurgiulesti, including in front of the Government Building, Parliament Building and the Presidential Palace. The exact time is yet to be decided. The protests will be organized in compliance with the legislation, without blockages.
The salary arrears for July – December 2024 exceed 190 million lei, and the state-owned enterprise Moldova’s Railways is facing a series of problems that endanger its work – accounts blocked for more than two months, shortage of diesel fuel and things that are most necessary for the proper functioning of the enterprise, said the Trade Union Federation of Railway Workers.
Meanwhile, Moldova’s Railway assured that paying the outstanding salaries to the almost 5,000 employees is its priority. "We are already implementing measures to reduce costs, increase revenue and improve customer service. We are working on modernizing the infrastructure to meet market requirements and regain the trust of passengers," the enterprise said in a press release.
The Public Property Agency announced the creation of a commission of censors and an audit committee in order to become more actively involved in identifying the enterprise's problems.
