Workers in the surface public transport in Sofia are preparing a new protest on Thursday. The action is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in front of the Sofia Municipality building and will be under the slogan “Budget and salary increase now!”. This was announced by the press center of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (KITUB), BGNES reported.
The protest is organized by the Federation of Transport Trade Unions under the KITUB and the Federation of Transport Workers under the Confederation of Labor "Podkrepa" due to the failure to fulfill commitments to increase wages in public transport due to the delayed adoption of the capital's budget for this year and its return for reconsideration to the Sofia Municipal Council (SOC).
“Despite the funds provided by the state, the lack of an adopted budget blocks key decisions, threatens the normal functioning of the sector and leads again to growing tension among employees“, the organizers of the action point out.
The protesters demand the immediate adoption of the budget and an increase in the salaries of those working in the capital's public transport by 300 leva. Improving working conditions and finding sustainable solutions for the stability of public transport companies are also part of the demands.
The two federations of transport unions call on the municipal leadership and municipal councilors to assume their responsibility towards the people who ensure the mobility of the capital every day, the press release of the CITUB also states.
The Mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev invited representatives of all political forces in the Municipality to a joint meeting on the Sofia budget, but it became clear at the meeting that there was no understanding on the capital's budget.