Unions in Romania plan potential nationwide strike in opposition to economic austerity measures
Romania is witnessing a wave of coordinated protests as trade unions and employees from various sectors take a stand against the government's new fiscal and austerity measures. The actions, which include demonstrations and a potential general strike, are aimed at voicing opposition to tax increases, salary freezes, and public sector cuts.
The decision for these actions was made during a meeting of union leaders who were evaluating the impact of recent policies. Representatives from CNSLR-Frăţia, CNS Cartel Alfa, CSDR, and CSN Meridian agreed to draft a unified set of demands reflecting the challenges faced by their members across sectors.
The protests have been particularly strong in Bucharest, with union members highlighting that austerity disproportionately affects lower-income workers and educators. Teachers, for instance, have protested cuts to food norms, vacation vouchers, and increased taxation that raise general living costs.
The first package of austerity measures took effect on August 1, 2025, including higher VAT rates (from 19% to 21%), increased excises, higher healthcare contributions on pensions above €600, pension and public sector salary freezes, limited bonuses, and state employment restrictions. A second package of fiscal-budgetary measures is planned for parliamentary approval, targeting public administration reforms such as a 20% staff reduction, resizing local police forces, decentralization reforms, and amendments to building tax regulations.
The government’s overall fiscal reform agenda is broad and includes not only tax increases but also banking and dividend tax hikes, reduced allowances for hazardous work, freezing pensions and salaries, and reforms aimed at improving tax collection efficiency due to a high VAT gap.
These measures have led to widespread dissatisfaction, with educators threatening strikes and refusals to teach extra classes. Due to public pressure from protests and political opposition, the government recently deferred the approval of a bill regulating private pension payments.
Weekly protests at prefecture offices are planned to begin on August 20, with the timing to be decided locally. The unified set of demands, once finalised, will be submitted to county-level unions and forwarded to local parliamentarians.
A signature collection campaign for a potential general strike is ongoing, with the aim of protecting union leaders legally in the event of court challenges. While there is no explicit mention of a formal, nationwide general strike with a detailed schedule, the ongoing union-led protests and possible strike actions suggest a strong expression of resistance to austerity.
Sources:
[1] Romania's Unions Protest Against Austerity Measures (Bloomberg, 2025) [2] Romania's Austerity Measures: What's at Stake? (Reuters, 2025) [3] Romania's Fiscal Reforms: An Overview (OECD, 2025) [4] Government Defers Approval of Pension Bill Due to Protests (Gandul, 2025)
The trade unions and employees from various sectors in Romania have rallied against the government's new fiscal and austerity measures, creating a unified set of demands during a meeting, aiming to challenge the recent policy-and-legislation changes that have generated widespread dissatisfaction. This political action, including demonstrations and the potential for a general strike, is in response to the government's austerity policies that disproportionately affect lower-income workers and educators in aspects like tax increases, salary freezes, and public sector cuts. The ongoing protests and possible strikes reflect the strong resistance towards the government's policy-and-legislation changes discussed in the general-news.
