That DAC 117E was tested in Belgrad, but returned to Romania... also, a DAC 217E was tested in Chişinău (Republic of Moldova), bat it was returned. I believe these vehicles were sent in Kiev or Kharkiv, Ukraine. Both cityes have (well... in Kiev they are not in service anymore) DAC 217E trolleybuses (to Kiev also at least one 112 E and one 117E with 3 doors, like the ones for Bogota) from 198x, and Kharkiv also bought Rocar 217E in 1995-1996 (so they liked them).
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Today we had a strike at RATB, so no public transport in Bucharest was available to the people (except the subway, that's otehr company... but there are many areas of Bucharest without subway). The result was a completely BLOCKED traffic and crossings (so not even a taxi could be used... because the traffic was jammed) plus delays at jobs and schools and a lot of "good words" to RATB's personnel and their mothers.
The strike ended at 6 PM, but most of the driver refused to drive (so there are only a few vehicles in service at this moment).
The list of requests and a short commentary of mine, where needed:
- to respect the age for retirement
- better work condition (how better? They have new buses and trolleybuses)
- new trams (!)
- 25% of their salary bonus for Easter (and they got it... however, many employees in other domains have no such "gift")
- 80% bonus for holiday (many employees in other domains have no such "gift")
- payments according to the inflation's rate
- to pay double wor the hours worked on Saturday and Sunday and three times for those worked on National Holidays (the law said that the hours worked on Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays are paid double or a free day is given)
- to increase the number of vehicles on extra-urban lines (that's very necessary)
- to increase the number of vehicles in service in week-ends and holidays (that's also a very good ideea)
- to respect the time spent at the end of line (what time? Some routes have very "large" times to stay at the end of route, even 50 minutes!)
The salary of a bus driver with 1 year of experience, whitout benefit for "hard route" (some long and busy routes, ussually central) and without 2% bonus ("merit payment") is about 1700 RON (about 415 euro). An experienced driver can get more than 2400 RON (585 euro).
To make a comparison, a teacher with all proffessional degrees, 2% bonus, 30 years of experience and all other extra-benefits available has a salary of maximum 1600 RON (390 euro).