site.btaUPDATED Sofia Metro Employees Protest Demanding Wage Increases

Employees of Sofia Metropolitan, the company operating the metro in the Bulgarian capital, started a protest under the slogan "For a dignified distribution of funds for wage increases in Metropolitan".

The protest was staged in front of the Metro's Serdika station entrances, which is close to the company headquarters. Federation of Transport Trade Unions in Bulgaria (FTTUB) said that protesters intend to block the entrances on Thursday.

FTTUB supports the Sofia Metro employees, whose dissatisfaction stems from fears that the agreement concluded on February 26 between Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev and the transport trade unions for a 15% increase in wages will not be implemented as signed.

Bulgarian National Radio reported that the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) want the wage increase to be 15% across the board for all Metropolitan employees.

The agreement between Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev and the transport trade unions for a 15% increase in wages starting from March 1 did not yield results, according to CITUB.

However, the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour believe that an equal percentage increase for all staff is unacceptable because there are large pay gaps in basic wages for the same jobs. They point out the difference in basic wages for train drivers, which is nearly BGN 1,000, as the lowest monthly wage is BGN 1,647 and the highest BGN 2,636.

According to Podkrepa Confederation, an increase in wages for all by 15% will deepen the pay gap within the same profession. For some it will reach differences of more than BGN 1,100.

The discussion will continue on Monday.