ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Public transport workers go on national protest for higher wages

Photo: BTA

Public transport workers in Sofia, Varna and Ruse took to the streets of the capital under the slogan “Decent work – decent pay! Without transport there is no economy!”, organized by the largest trade unions in the country.

The demonstrators blocked the intersection of Dragan Tsankov Blvd. and Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi Blvd., Orlov Most and Macedonia Square, building a barricade of tires. They also raised posters with the inscriptions “Governments are temporary – transport is eternal!” and “Sofia Municipality – mother or stepmother of the public transport?”.


The protesters are demanding a wage increase of 400 leva the first year, 500 leva the second, and 600 leva the third.

“Every year we are like beggars and we pray for some increase, and they make fun of us, they offer us 50-100 leva,” said Ivan Sakarov from the Podkrepa trade union. He added that the work of the workers in the transport sector is very hard – they get up at 2.30 am and since there are not enough drivers, they work 12-14 hours a day. “This is killing us, we are sacrificing our health, but we get no money,” the unionist added. 



The protesters are expected to hold a protest march to the Ministry of Finance and the Sofia Municipality.

“Unfortunately, the budget of the Sofia Municipality cannot allow us to fulfill what the transport workers are demanding at the moment, so it is important to work together with the state to find the necessary funds to finance an increase in line with their demands,” commented Ivan Vassilev, Deputy Mayor of Sofia for Finance and Healthcare, who came to the protesters at the intersection near the Vasil Levski Stadium metro station. According to him, the funds from the municipal budget are 15 million leva, which is just over 100 leva per worker.

“It is possible to make a targeted increase where it is necessary for drivers,” the mayor also said, emphasizing that there is a need for state assistance.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.
Radio Bulgaria News    protests public transport public transport workers Sofia Municipality wages

More from category

Christine Lagarde

Christine Lagarde: Joining the eurozone is just the beginning

The euro will help, but it does not on its own guarantee higher standards of living, said Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, at the high-level conference in Sofia titled ''Bulgaria on the Doorstep of the..

published on 11/4/25 11:40 AM

Premier Zhelyazkov: The euro is not just a currency, but a strategic choice

The adoption of the euro from January 1, 2026, is "one of the most important stages in Bulgaria's European path'', said Premier Rosen Zhelyazkov at the high-level conference titled "Bulgaria on the Doorstep of the Eurozone" held in Boyana Residence in..

published on 11/4/25 10:30 AM

A European Parliament committee will monitor road safety in Bulgaria

The European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions (PETI) has decided to monitor the state of road safety in Bulgaria. The decision came after hearing a petition submitted by Rosalina Gadyuchkova, a Bulgarian citizen living in the United Kingdom.  The..

published on 11/4/25 9:54 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 14
Rain
Min: 11 | Max: 14
Rain
Min: 10 | Max: 14
Rain
Min: 10 | Max: 13
Rain
Min: 8 | Max: 11
Rain
Min: 9 | Max: 12
Rain
Min: 8 | Max: 11
Rain
Min: 7 | Max: 11
Overcast, rain
Min: 8 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 14
Scattered showers
Min: 8 | Max: 12
Rain
Min: 8 | Max: 12
Overcast, rain
Min: 8 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 11
Scattered showers
Min: 8 | Max: 12
Overcast, rain
Min: 9 | Max: 13
Rain
Min: 6 | Max: 11
Rain
Min: 8 | Max: 12
Rain
Min: 6 | Max: 11
Rain
Min: 9 | Max: 13
Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 8
Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 11
Overcast, rain
Min: 8 | Max: 12
Rain
Min: 7 | Max: 12
Overcast, rain
Min: 9 | Max: 12
Rain
Min: 7 | Max: 12
Rain
Min: 9 | Max: 12
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Sofia hosts high-level conference titled "Bulgaria on the Doorstep of the Eurozone"

The Ministry of Finance and the Bulgarian National Bank are organizing a high-level conference today titled ''Bulgaria on the Doorstep of the Eurozone''...

published on 11/4/25 6:05 AM

Christine Lagarde: Joining the eurozone is just the beginning

The euro will help, but it does not on its own guarantee higher standards of living, said Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International..

published on 11/4/25 11:40 AM

EC puts forward plan for developing high-speed rail Bucharest-Sofia-Athens

The European Commission has presented a proposal for developing high-speed railway lines within the EU until 2040, linking the capitals in the EU, among..

published on 11/5/25 1:20 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"