Public transport workers in Sofia are planning a protest on Thursday morning (18 January). The protest is organized by the Federation of Transport TUs, which is part of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria, and the principal demand is a 30% pay rise as of 1 March. An obstacle standing in the way of meeting this demand is the non-functioning Sofia municipal council, which has been unable to elect a chairperson ever since the local election on 29 October, 2023. This is also hindering the adoption of a budget of Sofia for 2024.

Drivers, conductors and other employees say they cannot wait any longer for politicians to reach some kind of agreement. “In our sphere the starting salary is about 1,300 Leva a month (EUR 665). That kind of money is not enough. We don’t have the time to rest as we work overtime because we are understaffed,” the public transport workers say, as quoted by public service TV BNT.