site.btaUPDATED Sofia City Hall Reacts to Unions' Threat of Protest of Public Transport Workers

The Sofia City Hall Wednesday reacted to threats of protests of public transport workers over financial and other demands, saying that it is working to honour commitments made at meetings with the unions in the public transport fleet, and that the unions are trying to push forward some already agreed deadlines including one for introduction of a bonus system.

City Hall urged trade unions and transport employees not to succumb to political tension and pre-election manipulation.

"Sofia City Hall is actively working on implementing a bonus system for employees in the public transport sector, which is a key part of the agreement signed with the unions. The system has already been developed, with the aim of being introduced by the end of the year. This bonus system will be linked to the performance of transport workers, with the final deadline for its implementation set for the end of the year, not October 1 as the protesters demand. This timeline has been agreed upon with the unions and meets their requirements to ensure the system is applied as effectively as possible," City Hall added.

City Hall said in its position that amid growing economic challenges, every effort is being made to provide both fair wages and better working conditions for employees. However, the union protest at this time does not reflect the actual efforts and specific measures already taken.

City Hall reported that this year salaries in the sector rose by 15%, outpacing inflation and mentioned that since 2018, employees in transport companies have seen annual salary increases of 10%. From 2018 to 2024, the average salary in these companies increased by 130% to 150%, with drivers now earning a gross pay between BGN 3,700 and BGN 4,700.

City Hall also pointed out that the problem of driver shortages goes beyond just salaries. "Raising wages alone won't make the job appealing. We need a comprehensive strategy that includes training, better working conditions, and improving the public perception of the profession."

City Hall noted that the State has not provided adequate funding to cover urban transport expenses. For the current year, City Hall expects State payments of approximately BGN 50 million. These funds are needed for both public transport subsidies and metro security. However, the lack of State funding places a burden on the city hall budget.

The position further notes that the City Hall aims to continue an open and constructive dialogue with the unions. Addressing the issues in public transport requires time, planning, and joint efforts. Therefore, the City Hall administration urges union organizations and transport employees not to succumb to political tension and pre-election manipulation. Protests should remain peaceful and focused on achieving long-term results that will benefit both workers and all citizens of Sofia. City Hall remains open to dialogue and cooperation in the pursuit of fair and sustainable solutions.

The City Hall position is in response to the Federation of Transport Trade Unions (FTTU) with the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria, which has threatened protests if their demands for salary increases and a bonus system for municipal transport workers are not met. Following an unresolved October 4 meeting with Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, the unions are pushing for the implementation of an agreed bonus system this year, a 15% salary increase from 2025, and immediate payment of state debts to City Hall.

Later Wednesday, Sofia's public transport workers and trade unions gathered in protest over the non-implementation of the agreement signed with Sofia City Hall. According to the protesters, the refusal to introduce a fair bonus system for all employees shows the powerlessness of the local government to take important decisions related to the capital's public transport.

The Podkrepa Labour Confederation stated that they do not accept the Mayor's intentions to introduce the bonus system starting 2025, which would replace a subsequent increase in basic wages. President of the Transport Workers Federation of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour Ivan Kirilov told reporters: "We are opposed and now we will halt the transport together with the transport workers to show that they cannot mock us." Asked why transport workers were unwilling to be paid by the state rather than the municipality, Kirilov said the agreement on February 26 was made with the Mayor of Sofia, not the Finance Minister. The agreement came into force on, he said.