Decision delayed on legality of Dacia strike: court
BUCHAREST (AFP) — Thousands of workers at Renault-owned Romanian automaker Dacia remained on strike for a third day Wednesday, whilst a local court delayed a decision on its legality, according to a judicial source.
Workers at the factory in Pitesti, north west of Bucharest, are demanding higher wages and accuse the French company of not taking care of its employees.
The court in Pitesti was asked on Monday by the factory's owners to declare the strike illegal. Dacia claim only 49 percent of workers have downed tools, whilst the unions say it is 79 percent.
Management also accuses the unions of declaring the strike "before exploring all other stages of negotiation".
The court will rule on the status of the strike on April 2 -- coinciding with the first day of a NATO summit in Bucharest -- after a plea from the unions for more time to find a lawyer and examine the case.
A morning meeting between union and company officials led nowhere, union official Ion Iordache told AFP.
"The management put forward a new proposal, namely a monthly rise of 130 lei (35 euros, 55 dollars) from January, followed by a second rise of 26 lei a month from September," he said.
"We didn't accept this ridiculous offer and will continue with the strike."
Workers are demanding monthly rises of 550 lei (148 euros, 231 dollars) as well as increases for Christmas and Easter bonuses. That would leave the average monthly salary at around 435 euros, as opposed to 285 euros currently.
The management for its part offered a rise "which would guarantee every employee a gross rise of at least 250 lei a month".
Workers have argued that Dacia's financial performance allows management to meet their demands.
Dacia chief executive Francois Fourmont has reportedly warned that the unions' demands would threaten the factory's future, as Renault plans to open sites in Morocco, India and Russia in the coming years.
Union representatives for Renault workers in all countries where the company is present have expressed their support for Dacia employees.
Renault acquired a controlling stake in Dacia, formerly state-owned, 1999.
