(Update in the last paragraph adds details about state institutions blocked by the employees strike which spread across Romania)

Romanian Finance Ministry employees who started a spontaneous strike yesterday continued their protest, staying in the ministry headquarters during the entire night on Wednesday. The 200 employees will continue to protest on Thursday and go on with the strike until their demand over the return of cut bonuses will be met. The union leaders negotiated with the ministry's representatives until 3,00 hours in the morning but have failed to reach an agreement.

The Finance Ministry employees protest against the cut of their bonuses (stimulente) for August and September. For the ministry employees, the bonuses were a part of the normal monthly salary and for many of them, the bonus reduction cut meant a monthly salary of just RON 500 (EUR 117).

The protest has spread to local finance administrations across the country, with protesters stopping work and staging demonstrations outside their work places.

UPDATE: Over 500 Bucharest Financial Administration employees have joined their colleagues form the Finance Ministry at the ministry's headquarters. Employees from the Financial Administrations in Cluj, Prahova, Iasi, Buzau, Timis, Constanta, Brasov, Galati, Neamt, Alba, Vaslui, Arad, Bihor, Dolj, Calarasi and Ialomita stopped work this morning to protest against bonus cuts.

UPDATE 2: Teachers have announced they will stage a protest in front of the Education Ministry on Thursday at 12,30 hours, while employees from Health Insurance House and the Romanian Post said they will join the protest out of solidarity for their state employees colleagues.

editor@romania-insider.com