Romania's National Federation of Culture and Press Unions, CulturMedia, marked 98 years since Radio România's first broadcast and said that, from this autumn, it is affiliated to UNI Global Union in the Media, Entertainment and Arts sector, UNI MEI.
The federation said the link brings a stronger international dimension through union cooperation, exchange of experience and solidarity with professionals facing similar challenges. It said it will use that opening to press more firmly for the rights of people in Romanian culture and media, for pay and working conditions, freedom of expression and the independence of public media services, and that colleagues' voices will also be taken into European and international union dialogue.
In the anniversary message, signed by president George Balaci, CulturMedia greeted the people who go on air, prepare programmes, create, record, document and check what reaches listeners. It described Radio România as a journalistic and cultural reference point whose staff competence is recognised by colleagues in other news media, and said that work deserves professional and financial recognition beyond anniversary congratulations.
The union told those who set budgets and vote laws that appreciation must have concrete consequences. It said politicians who praise public radio also have a duty to clarify its legislative, budgetary and pay treatment. The law, it said, establishes the broadcaster as an autonomous public service of national interest that is editorially independent, and applying that status should no longer leave employees caught between convenient interpretations, contradictory classifications and delays that affect their income and professional outlook.
CulturMedia said keeping those uncertainties through postponed decisions has become a political choice whose consequences fall on employees. It asked Parliament and the Government for coherent solutions, predictable funding, respect for collective bargaining and recognition of the specific nature of work at the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company.
The statement also pointed to the broadcaster's reach beyond Romania. Radio România Internațional takes the country live to Romanians abroad and explains it to audiences in other languages and cultures, while Radio Chișinău keeps the link between the two banks of the Prut through the Romanian language, shared culture and journalism for the public.
CulturMedia thanked those who built public trust in the institution and those who carry it on, and said respect for Radio România should also show in how its people are treated.