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Public transport workers go on national protest for higher wages

Photo: BTA

Public transport workers in Sofia, Varna and Ruse took to the streets of the capital under the slogan “Decent work – decent pay! Without transport there is no economy!”, organized by the largest trade unions in the country.

The demonstrators blocked the intersection of Dragan Tsankov Blvd. and Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi Blvd., Orlov Most and Macedonia Square, building a barricade of tires. They also raised posters with the inscriptions “Governments are temporary – transport is eternal!” and “Sofia Municipality – mother or stepmother of the public transport?”.


The protesters are demanding a wage increase of 400 leva the first year, 500 leva the second, and 600 leva the third.

“Every year we are like beggars and we pray for some increase, and they make fun of us, they offer us 50-100 leva,” said Ivan Sakarov from the Podkrepa trade union. He added that the work of the workers in the transport sector is very hard – they get up at 2.30 am and since there are not enough drivers, they work 12-14 hours a day. “This is killing us, we are sacrificing our health, but we get no money,” the unionist added. 



The protesters are expected to hold a protest march to the Ministry of Finance and the Sofia Municipality.

“Unfortunately, the budget of the Sofia Municipality cannot allow us to fulfill what the transport workers are demanding at the moment, so it is important to work together with the state to find the necessary funds to finance an increase in line with their demands,” commented Ivan Vassilev, Deputy Mayor of Sofia for Finance and Healthcare, who came to the protesters at the intersection near the Vasil Levski Stadium metro station. According to him, the funds from the municipal budget are 15 million leva, which is just over 100 leva per worker.

“It is possible to make a targeted increase where it is necessary for drivers,” the mayor also said, emphasizing that there is a need for state assistance.

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