Rediness for effective strake of the transport workers in Sofia

The strike committees of Sofia’s public transport voted to call off the readiness for effective strike tomorrow, their representatives said Monday, but remain in a state of readiness. The committees accept the decision of Sofia City Hall for a 200 leva increase of salaries, but remain in readiness on their other demands, related to the promulgation of the new ordinance on the regulation of salaries in state - and municipal-owned companies, the amendments in the Corporate Income Tax Act, as well as on the remaining and still unfulfilled demands, Podkrepa strike committee chair Pavel Hristov said.

Hristov also told BTA that if there are no effective decisions the possibility of effective strike is not precluded. Earlier in the day, emerging from a meeting with Sofia Mayor Boiko Borissov Monday over the possible strike from Tuesday, trade union officials said the workers’ demands were „nearly met“.

Zhelyazko Hristov of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria said they would forward the result of the talks to the workers.

Bus and tram drivers in the Sofia public transport fleet wanted higher wages and untaxable non-wage payments. Last week they threatened to strike indefinitely, until their demands were granted and if the strike plans had stayed, only the underground trains would have run on schedule, as well as the buses of the 18 privately-run regular bus services. Or else Sofianites would have had to use their own cars, taxis or the private shuttle bus services.

Background

Sofia City Hall and the trade unions of the Sofia Public Transport Company signed an agreement later on Monday on a wage increase. Legal grounds were found for the increase which was a problem in the negotiations because the amendments to the Ordinance on Wages in Companies with an Over 50 Per Cent State and Municipal Interest, passed by the Council of Ministers last week, have not entered into force yet.

Media representaives attended the signing ceremony. There will be not an effective strike on May 15 but transport workers will be on the ready until June 15.

BTA