Education unions continue the steps to boycott the school year / protest scheduled on the first day of school
Teacher Protest, July 30, 2025. Photo: Hotnews / Adelina Mărăcine
Education unions have initiated the procedure of a referendum by which teachers decide whether to boycott the teaching activities after September 9th. On the first day of school, September 8, the teachers do not participate in the festivities of the beginning of the year, announcing protests.
The Federation of Free Trade Unions and the Federation of Education Unions “Spiru Haret” announces, in a statement, that protests will take place on September 3, 4 and 5 at the Ministry of Education, at the Government of Romania, as well as in the territory-in front of the prefects or the county school inspectorates.
Boicot on September 8, on the first day of school
On September 8, the beginning of the school year, the teachers will not participate in the official opening festivities of the school year “and in any kind of activities specific to the beginning of the school year”, say the trade unionists. Instead, a large rally is announced in front of the Victoria Palace, followed by a protest march, to the Cotroceni Palace.
According to the trade unionists, the action of boycot will be represented by:
- Protest in Victoriei Square, at the Government of Romania, followed by a march to the Cotroceni Palace, where another hour is protested;
- non-participation at the official opening festivities of the 2025-2026 school year and to any activities specific to the beginning of the school year;
Referendum on course hours
Education unions have also triggered a referendum among teachers. According to the document sent, the teachers must respond nominally if they agree to boycott the taught activities of September 9.
“The boycott of teaching activities starting with September 9, 2025 (the deadline for collecting September 5, 2025)”, the statement said.
Other proposed actions are:
- “Launching the referendum for consulting the union members in order to trigger the warning strike and the general strike;
- Other protest actions, according to the evolution of events and decisions of the collective management bodies, based on the vote expressed by the union members ”.
Why do teachers protest
Education unions motivate these steps “Given the disastrous effects of applying Law no. 141/2025 and of the subsequent acts issued by the Ministry of Education and Research, consisting of:
- Increased teaching norm by 2-4 hours;
- The merging of hundreds of educational units;
- Increasing the herds of preschoolers/students in the group/class;
- The reduction of over 50% of the tariff used for remuneration of the activity performed in “payment by time” regime;
- Increasing the obligation of chair for directors and inspectors, compared to the risk of eliminating the degree in the education system (a measure that will hit in all teachers in pre -school, primary, high school) ”.
