Schools in Romania may withhold attendance following negotiations with the government, according to warnings from education unions.
Tensions are running high in Romania as education trade unions have threatened a general strike and potential boycott of the new school year. The unions' demands come in response to the austerity measures outlined in Law No. 141/2025, which they claim negatively impact teachers' working conditions and the quality of education.
On August 11, union leaders met with Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and Education Minister Daniel David to voice their concerns. However, no concessions or reversal of cuts were made during the talks, as the government maintains that these measures are necessary to control the budget deficit.
The specific demands of the unions include the reversal of austerity measures, a stop to budget cuts, the resignation of Minister Daniel David, negotiation and signing of a new collective contract, an increase in the wage coefficient for teachers, implementation of the Constitutional Court's decision on compensation for work experience, and recognition of teachers' years of service during 1990–1999 as contributory for pensions.
Union leaders have not yet announced a decision regarding a potential boycott of the new school year, but they have warned that demonstrations will escalate if their demands are not met. The official school year is scheduled to begin on September 1, but unions have not yet decided whether classes will start as planned.
The unions have threatened a boycott of the beginning of the school year and escalated nationwide protests, including picketing and large rallies. Union leaders have also called for Minister Daniel David's resignation, but have not yet made a formal request for it in the media.
In response, Prime Minister Bolojan and Minister David have stated that the austerity measures are necessary to protect salaries and scholarships during the economic crisis. Minister David emphasized that some of the planned changes are temporary and will be reconsidered after the crisis. However, the prime minister "listened" to the unions' concerns but did not commit to revisiting the contested budget-cutting measures. Minister David also rejected calls for his resignation, noting the lack of funds to cover salaries and scholarships for the full year.
The unions have pledged to continue organizing protests nationwide, with protests resuming on August 11. Union officials have warned that the demonstrations will grow in scale and may become long-term if the government does not address their demands.
As the situation remains tense, it is unclear how the government will respond to the unions' threats and demands. The potential boycott of the new school year and general strike could have significant impacts on Romania's education system and economy.
References:
[1] Romania Insider. (2025, August 12). Romanian Education Unions Threaten Strike Over Budget Cuts. Retrieved from www.romania-insider.com
[2] Agerpres. (2025, August 11). Romanian Education Unions Protest Against Budget Cuts. Retrieved from www.agerpres.ro
[3] Ziarul Financiar. (2025, August 12). Romanian Education Unions Threaten General Strike Over Budget Cuts. Retrieved from www.ziarulfinanciar.ro
[4] Mediafax. (2025, August 11). Union Leaders Meet with Prime Minister and Education Minister Over Budget Cuts. Retrieved from www.mediafax.ro
[5] Romania-Insider.com. (2025, August 13). Romanian Education Unions' Demands and Government's Response. Retrieved from www.romania-insider.com
- Amid escalating nationwide protests and potential threats of a general strike, the education unions in Romania have voiced their concerns about the negative impact of politics and austerity measures on education-and-self-development, as outlined in Law No. 141/2025.
- The ongoing standoff between Romania's education unions and the government over budget cuts could have far-reaching implications, not just for the general news of Romania's education system and economy, but also for the future politics and policy-making in the country.
