site.btaTrakia Motorway Protest Ends without Blockade

The leadership of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Federation of Trade Unions in Forestry and Wood Processing have been invited to a meeting with Minister of Agriculture and Food Georgi Tahov, where an agreement is to be signed. This was announced by the chairman of the Federation, Konstantin Cholakov, according to information from the CITUB President.

The agreement provides for a 20% increase in wages for employees earning less than BGN 2,000 and a 10% increase for all others. The agreement also provides for funding for state-owned enterprises that are operating at a loss, as well as the provision of work clothing and equipment. 

The protest ended without stopping traffic on the Trakia motorway, and CITUB Vice President Todor Kapitanov was released from the police station. He was detained and taken to the village of Trud because of a clash with law enforcement officers when protesting employees of forestry and hunting enterprises attempted to close the Trakia motorway.

Bulgaria has heard the forestry and hunting employees, said Konstantin Cholakov. Protesters said that if their demands are not met, they will take effective strike action and will not participate in firefighting. 

According to Cholakov, over 200 people left state forestry and hunting enterprises last year, and five to ten people have been leaving every day in recent weeks.

He added that on Tuesday representatives of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Agriculture will protest in front of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.