More than 200 employees of Oltchim on Wednesday blocked for approximately one hour the traffic on DN 64 Ramnicu Valcea – Dragasani, by repeatedly crossing it at a pedestrian crossing, in protest against PM Victor Ponta’s refusal to talk with them during a rally in Bucharest. Also yesterday, some 300 employees of Divizia Petrochimica Bradu marched on the Arges Prefect’s Office, in order to give the prefect a list of their demands. The march was marked by an incident, when several employees had a brawl with the gendarmes, but negotiations with the Gendarmerie were successful and the marched was allowed to continue. The protesters demand the payment of overdue wages and the end of layoffs.
Meanwhile, the minister of Economy, Varujan Vosganian announced in a cabinet meeting held yesterday that a number of important companies from the chemical industry sent letters of intent about participating in the privatisation of the Oltchim plant. Negotiations with this regard will begin next week, he added. In his turn, PM Ponta warned Vosganian to watch out for crooks.