Over 300 employees in Sofia's public transport and trade unions gathered in protest in front of the building of the Capital Municipality. The reason for the dissatisfaction is the non-implementation of the agreed bonus system for those working in the municipal transport companies.
On October 4, a meeting was held with the Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, and the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Iliyan Pavlov, which did not lead to a result, and the tension escalated today into a protest.
According to the protesters, the refusal to introduce a fair bonus system for all employees shows the powerlessness of the local government to increase the incomes of those working in the metropolitan public transport and improve working conditions.
If the demand of the trade unions to introduce the bonus system for those working in Sofia's public transport is not fulfilled from October 1, there will be a one-hour strike on Friday and the transport will stop.
In front of Radio Sofia, Ivan Kirilov - Chairman of the Federation of Transport Workers at KT "Podkrepa" summarize the main requests:
– Implementation of the signed agreement with the Metropolitan Municipality and introduction of the agreed bonus system for salary increases within this year;
– An increase in basic salaries by a minimum of 15% from 2025 in sync with the expected increase in unemployment benefits;
– Immediate payment of the funds owed by the state to the municipality.
„From March 1 this year, wages increased by 15%. We understood that there would be a subsequent re-increase, albeit in the form of a bonus system. The mayor issued an order. During the summer months, we had a working group with his representatives to specify the details regarding the bonus system, especially the introduction of the kilometer bonus for drivers in the capital's auto and electric transport. At a meeting with the mayor on October 4, it became clear that for one reason or another, the mayor refuses to introduce the bonus system from October 1, referring us to a possible update of the municipal budget, to possibly pending money from the state. Rather, the idea is to receive these funds in 2025 and to replace our future request for an increase in the basic salaries of workers in all companies”, said Ivan Kirilov.
Earlier in the day, the Metropolitan Municipality sent an official position to the media, in which they say that the municipality is making maximum efforts to ensure fair wages and better working conditions for employees in the public transport sector.
From there, they add that today's protest does not reflect the real efforts and concrete measures that have already been taken.
The Metropolitan Municipality recalls that this year salaries in the sector have been increased by 15% and define this as a clear signal of the local government's intention to support those working in transport. For the last 6 years, the average salary in the companies has grown by between 130 and 150%, and the gross remuneration of the drivers is now between BGN 3,700 and 4,700, adds “Moskovska“ 33.