This is a protest that grew into a blockade of the garages, people could not go out. This was a strike that we paid for. All Sofia residents paid for the inconvenience throughout the day. For me, this is not acceptable. The rules were violated. A protest means for people to express their demands with banners, not to interfere with those who want to do their job. This was said in an interview with "Face to Face" by the mayor of Sofia Municipality - Vasil Terziev.
He indicated that he will meet with the protesters on Thursday at 2 p.m.. In an interview with bTV, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev proposed raising salaries in transport by 100 leva and promised a new bonus of 300 leva, if there is money, and not for everyone.
Earlier, protesters in public transport announced that their actions had escalated into civil disobedience.
The gross salary for the former, according to him, is 4,800 leva, without much overtime. In road transport, it is 3,900 leva, but with a lot of overtime. "There is a lack of technicians, drivers and dispatchers in the system," the mayor of Sofia highlighted the main problem.
"If they continue to insist on 400, 500, 600 leva. for everyone in the next 2 years - this simply cannot happen", further specified Vasil Terziev.
"We accept the invitation, we will discuss the conditions. We ask the mayor for a meeting for more than 13 hours, he again invites us through the media, and without a specific time", the protesters replied.
Two million Sofia residents were left without public transport today. The strike of buses, trams and trolleybuses in Sofia forced people to turn to alternative modes of transport. Their demands are for a 15% increase in basic salaries, equivalent to about 400 leva. The municipality's proposal is only 100 leva.
"I appeal to see each other tomorrow to talk about the essence, but this should not be at the cost of the comfort of Sofia residents. Representatives of the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions and the Confederation of Trade Unions "Podkrepa" should come. There is a municipal council, we will find time to meet and share my proposal and the framework that I want to propose to them. It would bring us closer to the 400 leva they want, but in a vulgar form. It cannot be for absolutely everyone in the four companies. We are working on a one hundred percent increase in the bonus for those working in electricity and road transport," announced Vasil Terziev, specifying that this is not planned for those working in "Metropolitan" and Central Urban Mobility.
Tomorrow will also be a non-school day.