„I understand the demands of the workers in public transport for higher salaries and decent working conditions, but they are being used by their union leaders - I hope not by political forces behind these union leaders. They are carrying out actions that are on the verge of the law“, said in „This Morning“ on bTV Boyko Dimitrov, Deputy Chairman of the SOS from the PP-DB.
„The union leaders do not make up their demands. There are conversations, you can hear what people are saying. People said this morning that they don't want bonuses, but they want an increase in the basic salary“, said Vanya Grigorova, a municipal councilor from “BSP - United Left“.
“Let them go on strike, but let it be legal. This is currently an illegal blockade of public transport depots. Depots of the private operator are also being blocked, where I have not heard of a strike and demands for a salary increase“, commented Dimitrov.
“The other problem is that yesterday, when the protest started, they said it would last until 12 o'clock. After that, it would be until they received an invitation to negotiations. They received it, but they said they would continue to protest while the negotiations were ongoing. This is arm-wrenching“, is the opinion of the deputy chairman of the SOS.
“They have been waiting for this invitation for more than a month and have not received it. Vasil Terziev said absolutely nothing specific. He said – I am going to assume that he will also invite the union leaders when he has something new to tell them or when they have something new to tell him. Then we heard his proposal on bTV. This is an illustration of the level of communication between the union representatives and the management of the Sofia Municipality“, said Vanya Grigorova.
Regarding Dimitrova's words that the protesters' actions are illegal, she asked what the workers are expected to do when the management of the Sofia Municipality has boycotted the talks.
“Salaries cannot increase by as much as they want – this is 30% in just one year. It is clear that they need to be increased, but this should be done in stages. We need to know where the money will come from“, said Boyko Dimitrov.
According to him, Mayor Vasil Terziev is looking for options.
“17 million leva more has been given from the state budget only for the capital's urban transport. In addition, the Sofia Municipality continues to not pay 5 million leva to the Center for Urban Mobility. We also have a transitional balance, which is not small at all - 283 million leva, as I recall“, said Vanya Grigorova.
“These 17 million barely cover last year's wage increase. Then they increased in April and October. Every 100 leva increase in wages – this is 15 million extra. Regarding the transitional balance – of these 283 million, 85 million are state activities. "This is money that we cannot redistribute. All of these 283 million have already been calculated on how they will be spent," explained Dimitrov.