Judges' honor resurrected by stressful strike

Being a judge is usually a prestigious and solemn position in the society, that’s why in court a judge is addressed as “Your Honor”.

The Romanian judicial system, which has been generally considered a weak pillar of the society and it have been more than questioned by non-governmental association under deficiency and corruptions terms, is now resurrected. Any EU surveillance report has undoubtedly revealed that justice within institutions enjoys a low level of confidence in the collective imaginary of Romanian society.

As of the beginning of September, Romanian judges continue to strike demanding the payment of bonuses that they themselves have ruled they are entitled to. In addition to the “show me the money” demand they are striking for better conditions of work that should bring benefits for the public, as well: efficiency, reasonable terms, transparency, and, hopefully, ruling accountability etc. Among of the burdens compensated by the bonuses introduced in 1990s for public workers, are the stressful jobs, being required to keep confidentiality or being exposed to radiation via using computer. My common understanding was that confidentiality is a matter of ethical behavior not condition of stress. Moreover, for a magistrate who should be the guarantor of justice’s independence, keeping confidentiality is an implicit condition of such position.

The judges have already obtained individually ruling from their colleagues stating that the abolition of bonuses is a form of discrimination against them. Within the big picture, judges are among highest paid Romania’s public workers, whereof a junior judge earns as much as a senior hospital doctor with no stress bonuses. Same picture says that Romania is facing 7.3 percent budget deficit and the economic concentration reached more than 8 per cent, an economic downturn the entire population is asked to understand it, gain less and live modestly.

Within the dots of the plan, magistrates are entitled to demand salaries, bonuses, better work conditions and fair human rights policies, alike any social category in Romania; the case is that any other social category in Romania can strike only if such is acknowledged in court as legally rightful by the judges.