ELCEN trade unionists protest in front of the Ministry of Finance. Bucharest Electrocentrale reaction
The trade unionists of Electrocentrale Bucharest (ELCEN) are protesting on Monday, December 22, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., in front of the Ministry of Finance, as a reaction to the “trenuleț ordinance” (OG 156/2024). The action, convened by the Independent Free Trade Union – Bucharest Electrocentrale Branch (SLI‑SEB), in partnership with the National Federation of Energy Workers of Romania (FNER), mobilized hundreds of people.
The protesters accuse wage discrimination. PHOTO SLI‑SEB
According to the organizers, the protest is a wake-up call to “the unjustified and discriminatory impact of some government measures, which, although declaratively aiming at financial stability in state-owned companies, directly affect employees, without them having been consulted or protected in any way”.
Union members express their deep dissatisfaction with the negative effects of Emergency Ordinance no. 156/2024, a normative act that generated major blockages in the construction of the income and expenditure budgets for the year 2025 and which led directly to wage losses for employees in the energy sector, the organizers explained, on Sunday, in a statement in which they announced that approximately 500 employees are expected at the protest.
The representatives of trade union organizations request “the reanalysis and amendment of GEO No. 156/2024, especially with regard to Article XL and the amendments made to GEO No. 26/2013, so that the rights of employees are respected and the budgets of economic operators in the field of energy can be built realistically and fairly”
“The dignity of employees and the protection of their income must again become a priority for state institutions”, the unions submitted.
ELCEN reaction
Electrocentrale București SA stated on Monday, January 22, that, during this union action, it carries out its activity under normal conditions and states that it remains open to dialogue with the social partners.
“Electrocentrale București SA informs that, on December 22, part of the company's employees participate in a trade union action, organized by the representative trade union organization, in the exercise of the rights to expression and social dialogue.
ELCEN is, above all, a community of people. Respect for employees, for their work and for their right to express their views through union structures is an assumed value of the company. Employee concerns are known and dealt with responsibly.
In this context, roles and responsibilities are clearly delineated.”
ELCEN emphasizes that the action carried out belongs to the trade union organization, while the management of ELCEN exercises its management responsibilities through its own institutional approaches, in dialogue with the competent authorities:
“During this union action, Electrocentrale București SA carries out its activity under normal conditions, ensuring the continuity of the supply of thermal and electrical energy to the Municipality of Bucharest and, at the same time, contributing to the stable operation of the National Energy System by producing the necessary electrical energy.
The management of Electrocentrale București SA remains open to dialogue with the social partners, with respect for employees and within the limits of the legal framework and the attributions that fall to them, with the objective of balancing the rights of employees, the stability of the company and the public interest”.
