Vladescu won’t budge in union dispute

Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said the modification of the letter of intent to the IMF would be a mistake and stood his ground during the round of talks with the unions at the Finance Ministry, also attended by Prime Minister Emil Boc.
During the about three-hour meeting, the parties unsuccessfully tried to convince each other they had better solutions to help the public budget.
The heads of the union confederations eventually left convinced that “the government is inflexible” and would not change a thing about the letter of intent.
Under the circumstances, they threatened again to go on general strike on the 31st of May.
Premier Emil Boc said the adjustment steps were necessary, or else salary and pension payments would cease in December.
“I know that the Government I represent is not a Government well-liked at this moment, because if it were it could drive Romania towards a disaster and could endanger the security of this country,” Boc said, explaining that the steps were required as a result of the slippages in the wage and pension policy in 2007 and 2008 and of the economic crisis.
He says the Government will look for ways to keep investments and jobs. “The Government is receptive to everything discussed, but it cannot be blind.”