In the 1990s, Romanian unions knew no limits, fought against one another, mobilized masses against the government. The unions gave the Prime Minister, Ciorbea in 1996. Then they pushed him down. #laborhistory @ituc @etuc_ces
In 1990, the PM Petre Roman tries to issue a moratorium on strikes, saying that we must stabilize the economy. The workers go on strike, even if their unions approve or not.
Those were not easy strikes, but full on assault on company HQs.
Those were not easy strikes, but full on assault on company HQs.
In 1991, the first Law on Labor Unions is passed, aimed at limiting union dissent. Workers ignored it and struck whenever they saw this to be in their interest.
In 1992, radio workers go on strike against the management, asking for its removal. The problem was not only wages, but the fact that those were promoted unfairly.
The craziest of them all is 1993, when the railway workers organized a massive strike. The Government tells them to halt it for 90 days and that it is illegal. They do not care and resume the strike.
The Government broke it by threatening with the arrival of the army.
The Government broke it by threatening with the arrival of the army.
What we have nowadays is not indicative of those times, when power rested in workers hands. Though, instead of falling trap to pessimism, we must imagine how to get back courage and fight against all injustices.
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