I have no reason to talk to people who are holding an entire city hostage. This was stated by Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev to journalists in the courtyard of the church "St. Great Martyr Mina" in the capital's "Slatina" district in response to a question about whether he would meet again with representatives of the protesters in the ground public transport in Sofia, who are demanding a salary increase and have blocked the exits of the depots for another day.
For me, the main thing is to restore the work of ground transport and not hold all of Sofia hostage, added the mayor of the capital. He invites protesters to negotiations in the municipality tomorrow, but only if they start moving ground public transport. "I don't see what it means to agree. There are some unreasonable demands on the table and they say: "Until we achieve them, we won't stop", said Terziev. In his words, there should be an honest conversation about what is possible and what is not possible.
We have three options before us, said the mayor. "A lot for everyone, what the unions want and about which I said that it will not be possible either this year, or next, or the year after, because it all comes from Sofia's coffers," said Terziev. If we achieve it and fulfill their demands, it would burden the budget with 200 million leva every year. The municipality's own revenues are in the order of 800-900 million leva and there is no way we can allocate so much money from them that would otherwise go to infrastructure, kindergartens. This option is impossible, said the mayor.
The second option is a little for everyone. If we do this, we will have this conversation next year and the year after, and we will still not solve the problems, the Sofia mayor emphasized. Because with last year's wage increase, the drivers' remuneration increased, but new drivers did not come, because the formula used does not lead to a young driver achieving incomes comparable to those in the private sector, Terziev explained. In his words, what he is proposing would lead to a 2700-2800 leva salary, which is comparable to the private sector. Terziev insists on a responsible attitude towards transport and that the system not be broken. This is not a flea market dispute. I have been extremely argumentative about the price of their demands, the Sofia mayor pointed out.
When asked if administrative cuts would help solve the problem, Terziev said that this is also possible, but this must come from the heads of the companies themselves. In ten years, the average age of drivers has increased by ten years. The number of drivers is falling because there is no perspective and no reforms are being made. When I think about transport, I think long-term, said the mayor.
Regarding the upcoming high school graduation exams and transport security, Terziev said that he hopes that reason will be shown and transport will be restored. But even without that, organization is underway, we have analyzed how many children have managed to get to schools without ground transport. There is a headquarters created by the Minister of Education, said the mayor. Taxi companies promised support, I spoke with them. When crises come, we unite, we are in solidarity as a society, added Terziev.
Regarding the risk of the metro being stopped, Vasil Terziev said that currently the actions of transport employees are illegal. When there is a protest, there are rules and it does not include blocking the depots. The strike has clear rules and it necessarily includes at least some of the transport to work, Terziev said. "It is neither a protest nor a strike, it is civil disobedience", he added.
For another day, buses, trams and trolleybuses are not running in Sofia. The metro continues to operate with normal working hours for a Sunday, and due to an event at the "Vasil Levski" national stadium, trains will run until 01:30 at night.
The drivers' protest began on May 14 and will continue until the employees' demands are met, the unions announced. They are protesting for a salary increase of 400 leva from 01.03.2025, as well as for the provision of sanitary facilities and toilets, improved lighting, heating and work uniforms. Among the demands are also an increase in the cost of food from 15 leva to 20 leva, effective March 1, 2025.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Education and Science and the Mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev assured that options are being sought and work is being done to ensure the transportation of students and queuing students for the matriculation exams, which are coming up next week, in case the protest of the workers in the capital's public transport continues and ground transport does not move.