”I asked for suspension of the strike to the Court of Appeal in Bucharest, in an emergency status. I wish to inform the passengers that not all mechanics in Mr. Sala?s trade union are on strike. Thus the mechanics in the Depot of Bucharest-North and those in Buzau who are members of the same trade union are not on strike. I received a minutes by means of which the latter mention that they do not agree to the strike and therefore, are not on strike. Moreover, out of 15 IRLU sections (Enterprise for Engine and Railway Equipment Repairs), 6 delcared that they do not agree to general strike as their main claim - salary rise by 9% - was fulfilled, moreover, after the negotiations, the managerial boards offered 12%. We consider that the engine mechanics? strike is unjustified, as in an initial stage, their request only regarded salary rise by 9%. ÃŽn urma negocierilor cu administraÅ£iile de cale ferată, ei au obÅ£inut 12%. It is precisely for this reason that we ask for suspension of the strike. Moreover, I consider that the moment chosen by them for organizing this strike is totally unfavourable to the railway companies, both for the Commodities company and for the Passengers Railway Company. In teh commodities company there have occurred several private operators that by now have recorded 10 % of the total amount of commodities. On this occasion, these operators will record some more percentages and will most probably reamin with these percentages. In the passenger company the road hauliers have gained part of the passengers who travel now by microbus or by coach. Thus, we shall acquire some more percentages. These two companies will probably record commodities and passengers deficit, while the passengers fnally stay will the road and private operators. For the railway station, This means that soon the activity of these companies will be restricted. Restriction of this activity means new vacancies. We hereby make an appeal to the engine mechanics to prove mature and consciencious, since through this general strike they jeopardise their jobs.

At this hour there are 46 passenger trains that circulate in additon to the pre-established third. This is so out of respect for the passengers. Moreover, I want to stress the fact that non-observance of the programme does not mean non-observance of the general traffic timetable. Traffic runs normally and any mechanic who is mature and consciencious enough and runs the locomotive, will circulate in maximal security conditions on the railway, without jeopardising the passengers? life on the train at any given moment”.