From: Barry Stoller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [L-I] Another anti-capitalist demo in Romania AP. 29 November 2001. Some 15,000 Workers March Through Bucharest to Protest Low Wages, Job Insecurity. BUCHAREST -- Marching to the beat of a brass band, thousands of laborers from across Romania converged on the capital Thursday to demand job security and higher wages. The mostly male crowd of 15,000 thrust their fists into the air and set off hand-held sirens, while the band played patriotic music at the protest, organized by a trade union that claims 750,000 members. The protest on the icy streets of Bucharest was one of several in recent days. With winter setting in, fears have increased that officials will slash jobs in state-run industries to control spending. "We've had enough! Down with the prime minister!" the workers shouted, cursing the year-old government as they marched, many with flaps on their hats pulled down over their ears to keep out the cold. Romania's poverty bites harder in the winter, when heating bills rise along with the price of fresh produce. Other prices also traditionally increase around Christmas. Many of the defense industry, auto and postal workers marching Thursday fear they will not be able to pay their bills. The government has recently raised utility prices to bring them up to international levels. The protests also reflect a loss of faith in Romania's new government. Prime Minister Adrian Nastase has been criticized for pandering to the West in the government's quest to join NATO while putting a gloss on ordinary people's problems. Formerly communist Romania has had difficulty restructuring its economy along market lines. Although a 4 percent economic growth rate is predicted this year, few people's living standards have improved and the national monthly salary remains at the equivalent of $100. "We want higher wages, lower taxes and a risk bonus," said Elena Baciu, 26, a postal worker from Bucharest, who said she makes the equivalent of $60 a month. Defense industry worker Gheorghe Stoica, 41, said his factory in the town of Plopeni, north of Bucharest, was short on orders, forcing him to work only part-time and cutting his earnings. Unemployment is about 8 percent in Romania, where successive governments have shied away from closing down large state-run enterprises, fearing unrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
