Romanian president urges wage caution in crisis

BUCHAREST, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Romanian President Traian Basescu urged on Friday for the government, parliament and trade unions, clashing over wage claims in the run up to the Nov. 30 election, to minimise the impact of the global financial crisis. Basescu's speech came as Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu and major trade unions met to discuss pay increases after parliament cleared a 50 percent wage hike in teachers' wages last month. The decision, which still needs to be approved by Basescu and which the centrist minority cabinet opposes, saying it will lead to a huge budget deficit in 2009, has triggered a flurry of similar wage demands from most of the public sector. 'The impact of a potential lack of responsibility of the government, parliament and unions could be that of bringing the... [read full story]