Trains stopped and all railway activity was blocked in Romania for two hours this morning (Wednesday, April 23), between 07,00 and 09,00 local time, after negotiations for a new collective labor contract failed the previous day. Trains either stopped in railway stations, or, if already en route to their destination, stopped in the first station on their route.

This affects around 400 passenger trains, tens of thousands of people, and 200 freight trains. This is the railway workers' way of reminding the country's rulers they have not received any salary increase in the last six years, according to their representatives. A new meeting to discuss the collective labor contract is scheduled for today, at 17,00.

Among the workers' complaints are the cancellation of their right to travel by train for free, as well as the possible layoff of 2,500 people if the new collective contracts are not signed.

editor@romania-insider.com