The third round of talks between the owners of Automobile Dacia and its union, which was held on Friday, has failed, while the general strike, started by the employees on March 24, will now enter its second week.
Out of the total number of Dacia employees, 42.6% are still on strike, which is about 5,500 people, out of a total 13,000, compared with the almost 6,350 at the beginning of the strike, according to information provided by Automobile Dacia officials.
The percentage of those on strike has gone down since March 24 from 48.8% to 45.8% on Tuesday, to 42.7% on Thursday and 42.6% at the end of last week.
Talks on Friday lasted for two hours, and union members turned down the management offer, dismissing it as unrealistic compared with "the very good labour productivity in the factory", as Dacia union leader Nicolae Pavelescu told Mediafax.
"Today's offer (Friday i.e.) is yesterday's and the day before yesterday's offer. The content doesn't change, what changes is the shape it is presented in and that's all. We want 550 RON and the management is offering much less. Under the circumstances, the general strike continues," Pavelescu said.
The general strike of the employees at Dacia has "enough elements to demonstrate it is illegal," says Mihai Acsinte, legal executive manager of Automobile Dacia.
The general strike at Dacia, representatives of the Romanian Foreign Investment Association (ARIS) say, could make foreign investors change their opinion and decision on Romania's attractiveness in terms of costs. At the same time, the decisions of those that have already announced plans for Romania, such as Ford's suppliers will remain unchanged.
"Such a strike does not bode well for any kind of investment, especially if it's foreign and in the automotive industry. However, I don't think it will make investors, especially Ford or th
