Federations of Education Unions say that the percentage of union members on strike is 86.93 of the total number of those who signed up for a referendum to initiate this form of protest. For its part, the Ministry of Education clarified that the percentages published on Tuesday “are calculated in relation to the total number, respectively, the total number of teaching staff of pre-university education, and not the total number of trade union members.”

The Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education and the Federation of Trade Unions in Education “Spiru Haret” said on Tuesday evening that, following centralization by affiliated unions, 134,007 union members were on strike on Tuesday, representing 86.93% of the total deputies who signed up for a referendum on the announcement of a strike.

“We note that the percentages put forward by the Ministry of Education today were reported for the total number of education workers, which caused confusion among the striking unions. We ask the Government to urgently resume negotiations in the interests of the education system,” say the trade unions.

What does the Ministry of Education say

According to the data received from the school inspectorates of the district/city of Bucharest, the situation at the national level after the adoption of the emergency decree 53/2023, the Ministry of Education says that the situation of teachers who have continued or stopped the strike is as follows:

• From May 31 to June 6, the percentage of teachers on strike decreased by 4.78, and overall by 5.26 (teaching, support and non-teaching staff).
• Compared to the data obtained on May 31, today, June 6, it can be seen that the number of teachers who continue the strike has decreased in all districts except Covasna (+1.1%).
• At the general level, the majority of employees of the pre-university system resumed their activities in the counties: Vilca (12.6%), Ialomica (11.8%), Teleorman (11%), Botosani (10.3%), Bucharest (9%), Buzeu (8%).
• From May 31 to June 6, about 15,000 employees of the pre-university education system, including about 10,000 teaching staff, resumed work.

• At the national level, according to reports received from the District School Inspectorates/Bucharest Municipality, in 1,007 educational institutions the percentage of teachers participating in the strike is 0 (168 units more than on 31 May) and in 233 units involving a total of teaching staff (by 42 educational units less than on May 31).

For its part, the Ministry of Education notes that the statistical information on the percentage of those who continue the protest action or resumed their activities “is calculated in the reporting to the total number, respectively, to the total number of pedagogical workers of pre-university education, and not to the total number of trade union members “.