Demonstrations by healthcare and education unions against the Romanian government's financial plan to be staged outside Parliament.
In a continued show of discontent, unionists from the Sanitas Federation, representing healthcare employees, and education sector unions in Romania gathered for a protest on July 7, 2025, in front of the Romanian Parliament. The demonstration was a response to the government's proposed fiscal measures, which the unions view as austerity policies that adversely affect public sector workers.
The protesters expressed their disapproval of measures such as the cutting of bonuses for hazardous work conditions, which would result in significant reductions in monthly incomes. Despite the severe heatwave, participants gathered with signs, vuvuzelas, and whistles to voice their opposition.
Looking forward, the unions have announced plans for further actions. On September 8, a large-scale mobilization is planned, with teachers potentially organizing protests alongside students in Bucharest and other cities across Romania. The exact details of these protests, including specific locations beyond Bucharest and other cities in Romania, have not been specified yet.
Marius Nistor, President of the Federation of Education Trade Unions "Spiru Haret," stated that it is likely that protests will occur on September 8, involving teachers and students in the streets across Romania. Nistor did not rule out any form of action, even a general strike, in response to government policy.
Simion Hăncescu, President of the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education, stated that the protest on September 8 is timed with the government's move to assume responsibility for the fiscal package in Parliament. Hăncescu warned that further actions, including a large-scale mobilisation at the beginning of the school year, are possible.
Both Nistor and Hăncescu have noted that the existence of a collective labour agreement does not prevent them from organizing protests in response to government policy. Final decisions on future protests, including the possibility of a general strike, will be taken after educators return to schools on September 1.
These protests are part of a broader response to the government's fiscal package, which the unions see as unfairly targeting vulnerable public sector workers while leaving political privileges intact. The unions have not provided any new information about potential further actions beyond September 8.
The Sanitas Federation, in addition to education sector unions, have shown interest in extending their protest against the government's austerity policies to other areas, specifically voicing concern over proposed science budget cuts that could impact health-and-wellness research. Additionally, the unions are considering including health care professionals in future protests, aligning their fight for fairer public sector worker treatment with the advancement of scientific research.
