Daewoo Mangalia faces strike action

At least 1,500 workers at Daewoo Mangalia Heavy Industries in Romania went on a protest march on Friday after managers blocked a salary hike. The workers were frustrated that their wages have failed to match levels seen in other EU shipyards. The protesters gathered at about 1700 at the gates of the shipyard and marched to the centre of Mangalia town. Union leader Marin Florian said it was not right that the yard's workers had to take this action to secure a wage rise and show their concern over outsourcing of many of the shipyard's services. "We are a strong union. If the yard managers refuse to consider our concerns, we are prepared to launch strike action," he said. The unions have been asking for a rise of 600 lei (about $200) a month, starting from 1 April. Managers offered 85 lei, a further 60 lei on 1 April and on 1 September. This was declined and strike action now appears close. Daewoo Mangalia VP Eugen Pricopie said the union claims were 70% above the yard's financial capacity and could drive the yard into bankruptcy. Despite four weeks' negotiations the two sides remain as far apart as ever. Adding to the yard's concerns has been the departure of more than 600 highly skilled specialists for work in the US; another 400 are due to leave on Wednesday.