We reaffirmed our positions. I again presented the thesis why the proposal I made is the correct one, and how it solves the problems before us. There were no negotiations, everyone simply told where they started from, why. I again asked the questions that concern me – first the availability of funds, then the appropriateness of spending in order to solve the problem in depth. We also talked about how important it is to think in the longer term, because for me this is the starting point. This was stated by Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev after a meeting with the unions this morning, quoted by novini.bg.
According to him, there is no way anyone will choose to get out of the car until public transport changes.
„The necessary organization has been made for the matriculation exams with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, there is a working group. There will be no children left who will have difficulties with transportation. Citizens have also organized themselves. The unions have confirmed that there will be no ground transport for these days“, he explained.
„I don't know how to develop a plan B when there is no way to get the necessary funds. I went into detail about why the bonus scheme is a better option to encourage young drivers. They are willing to negotiate, but they are not willing to give up anything – what kind of negotiations are these when you expect them to accept your conditions? I have given my decision, I will show it in numbers“, added Terziev.
According to him, populism is convenient, it is easy to promise, but it is irresponsible.
„I can back down when I see something on the other side that answers the questions. For me, the basic principle is to invest the money where we have the biggest problem. If the metro stops, then there will be a real strike, not like now - an illegal blockade. The decision is not easy“, the Sofia mayor also commented.
It is up to the companies to decide whether to pay salaries for the protest days: „We will do everything possible to find a way not to pay the subsidy for these days, perhaps with the exception of the first one. This is a matter of national security, more specifically what can and cannot be done.“
„In the conditions of a strike, transportation must be provided. The transport service can be reduced, but not stopped, as it is currently. We are currently in something worse than a strike. I am waiting for estimates and proposals from the Central Government on how to compensate people with public transport cards. As for driving in bus lanes - it cannot happen, because it concerns the Road Traffic Act, regulations of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. The blue and green zones continue to operate during the week“, he also shared.
The mayor specified that there are 17 million leva, which have been given by the state, 13 million BGN, which are calculated for the increase of 100 BGN, and an additional 15 million, which are not there, but they will do everything possible to provide them in order to implement the proposal for 100 BGN to the salary of all 7,000 people, plus a 100% increase in metropolitan auto and electric transport: “And these 15 million are not sitting somewhere and we can distribute them easily. They must be found. The question is what we have, what additional we can do and how to achieve these goals that we have – the missing drivers, the missing service workers.“