At 7 p.m. we will issue an official decision to end the blockade of public transport in Sofia. Let the SOS committees pass first, where the financial and economic framework of public transport will be examined.
The meeting of the unions with the Prime Minister was at 1 p.m. and was at the Prime Minister's invitation. Mayor Terziev was not present, but as far as we understand, there was a meeting between him and the mayor today, before that.
This was stated by Ivan Kirilov, Chairman of the Federation of Transport Workers in Podkrepa Trade Union in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio.
"The satisfaction is for the workers, the basic salaries will be increased by 300 leva", commented the trade unionist.
Minutes before that, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced that the government would allocate 15 million leva for public transport in Sofia, and for this purpose he had a meeting with the trade unions.
"At the meeting with Prime Minister Zhelyazkov and Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, we from the "Podkrepa" and the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions were present. We received assurances from the Prime Minister that the Council of Ministers will allocate another 15 million leva in subsidy to the Sofia Municipality for public transport by decree. Our meeting was at 1 p.m. and was at the invitation of the Prime Minister. Mayor Terziev is not present, but as far as we understand, there was a meeting between him and the mayor today, before that", Ivan Kirilov revealed details of the meeting.
According to him, there should not have been a blockade of public transport in Sofia, but there should have been a reaction from the mayor, even when they announced the protest for May 14.
"I am now moving from MS to Moskovska 33. Right now I want to achieve success for the workers' desire and to relieve Sofia, for ground transport to start. We wanted a 3-year agreement, but given the situation, we only have a guarantee for this year. For the following years, further talks", said Ivan Kirilov.
He was categorical that the economic majority in the SOS has nothing to do with the protest.
"I have been the chairman of the union for 6 years, and since January 30 this year, an advisor. I am not a member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, nor of any other party. The reason it came to this point was the lack of dialogue with the Sofia Municipality. The workers showed a desire to oppose and I, as a union leader, led them, and now and in the future I stand by them," the union leader said.