site.btaInterior Ministry Employees to Get Pay Rise, but Unions Remain Ready to Protest

Interior Ministry Employees to Get Pay Rise, but Unions Remain Ready to Protest

Sofia, June 15 (BTA) - The trade union organizations at the Interior Ministry remain ready for a protest but have reached agreement with the Ministry's leadership on their key grievances, it emerged at a news briefing after a meeting of the Ministry's Social Partnership Council on Thursday. The tradeunionists demand a 15 per cent salary increase, effective July 1, and amendments to the Ministry of Interior Act.

Deputy Interior Minister Stefan Balabanov commented that agreement had been reached on three points: the need to raise the salaries of security sector personnel, urgent revisions of the Ministry of Interior Act, and drafting an entirely new law.

Balabanov also said that all Interior Ministry employees will receive new uniforms until the end of the year, and half of the quantities have already been distributed to the regional directorates.

Valentin Popov, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Trade Union Federation of the Employees in the Ministry of Interior, commented to the media that, as long as normal negotiations are in progress and there are points on which a consensus can be reached, there cannot be talk about protests.

Popov also said that his Federation insists on a 15 to 20 per cent pay rise, and other options were discussed as well.

The tradeunionist said he was sorry that the Government could not enjoy a 100-day "honeymoon", but there was no other possibility.