Workers livid after wage cuts

Romania (AP)

About 5,000 Romanian workers are protesting over austerity measures taken by the government to trim down the budget deficit amid a deep recession.

Health workers, railway workers, defence employees and other public workers from all over Romania took part in yesterday's event in front of the government offices. Romania has been hit by a series of protests after the government cut public wages by 25 per cent.

Workers are demanding authorities reverse wage cuts, stop planned layoffs and increase the minimum wage. Thousands protested for most of last week, including 6,000 policemen who staged a protest Friday in front of the president's office.

On Monday, thousands of Slovenian police, customs officers, veterinary inspectors and journalists protested over government's plan to freeze their salaries for two years. Several labour unions representing about half of all public service workers, said the strike will continue until the government abandon its plan.