site.btaSofia's Public Transport Workers to Rally for 30% Pay Raise

The Federation of Transport Trade Unions of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) is organizing a protest action on Thursday, January 18, for higher wages and other demands, Federation Chairman Alexander Shopov told BTA. For the time being, only CITUB members will take part, but joint actions with the Confederation of Labour "Podkrepa" are planned, he specified.

"Even before Christmas and the New Year, we made our demands to the state and the municipality for a wage increase in the public transport system, but so far we have had no reaction," Shopov said.

On December 8, the public transport workers submitted a declaration to the Sofia Municipality with their demands in more than 20 points. "Together with "Podkrepa" we submitted a letter to the Mayor of Sofia with a demand to convene the council for social cooperation on transport. We are still awaiting a response," he also said.

The main demand is for a 30% increase in wages in public transport as well as improved working conditions. They are also expecting measures to retain current and recruit new staff.

In Sofia’s electric mass transit, the starting salary for a service worker is BGN 1,200. According to Shopov, the average gross salary for the capital last year exceeded BGN 2,700.

“Both in Sofia and in the country, not only drivers but also other workers in public transport, there is a high percentage of people in pre-retirement age, according to our estimates it is about 40%. When their jobs become vacant, there will be no new people to take their place,” Shopov further explained.

On December 18 last year, a protest rally of CITUB took place in Sofia with demands for higher wages in several sectors. Traffic was closed at Eagles Bridge because of dissatisfaction with the situation in public transport.