FTTU at the CITUB is organizing protest actions in urban transport in Varna, Ruse, and Sofia

Federation of Transport and Trade Unions (FTTU) at the CITUB joins the national protest actions organized by the CITUB and some of its main members, which will take place in the country from March 9–12. The actions are related to the demand for a legislative solution to ensure a minimum 5% increase in basic monthly salaries retroactively from January 1, 2026, for the sectors financed on a subsidy basis.

The protests are being organized after the first draft of the so-called extension law did not foresee a salary increase for employees in a number of public sectors, including transport. According to the FTTU, this creates serious social tension among workers and exacerbates problems with staff shortages and the low attractiveness of professions in public transport.

As part of the protest campaign, workers in Urban Transport in Varna, Ruse, and Sofia will express their dissatisfaction through protest actions, demanding that the government provide the necessary resources in the budget.

March 9 – Protest of the Workers in "Urban Transport - Varna"

The workers and employees of "Urban Transport - Varna" will hold a protest motorcade and rally at the Asparuhov Bridge.

The motorcade will start at 11:00 a.m. from 48 Troleyne Street and will proceed along the following route:
48 Troleyne Street – Hristo Smirnenski Blvd – Dimitar Polyanov Street – Georgi Peyachevich Street – Devnya Street – Black Sea Highway – Asparuhov Bridge.

A protest rally will take place on the bridge from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m., where workers will declare their demands for securing funds for a minimum 5% increase in basic monthly salaries retroactively from 01.01.2026.

According to the calculations of the trade union organization, the necessary financial resource for this increase is 1.3 million euros.

March 10 – Protest of the Workers in "Urban Transport - Ruse"

The protest in Ruse will start at 9:00 a.m. and will continue until 6:00 p.m., with the movement of some bus lines in the city being blocked.

It is planned to close the entire roadway of Third March Blvd in the area of the roundabout and the intersection with General Nikola Ribarov Street in the Western Industrial Zone.

As a result of the protest actions, bus lines 2, 9, 24, 16, and 19 will be blocked.

Workers demand that the government provide funds from the budget for at least a 5% increase in basic monthly salaries retroactively from 01.01.2026. For this purpose, 0.55 million euros are needed.

March 11 – Meeting with Representatives of Institutions in Sofia

Workers and employees from Urban Transport in Sofia have invited the prime minister, the finance minister, and the mayor of the Sofia Municipality to visit one of their workplaces and become personally acquainted with the working conditions.

The meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on March 11 at the "Tramcar" unit of "Sofia Electric Transport" EAD.

The aim is to have an open and constructive conversation about the real problems in the sector, without involving workers in political confrontations and without shifting the focus from their specific demands.

According to the calculations of FTTU and CITUB, to increase the salaries of workers in the Sofia urban transport retroactively from January 1, 2026, a total of 8.38 million euros is needed, distributed as follows:

– "Sofia Autotransport" – 2.31 million euros;
– "Sofia Electric Transport" – 2.28 million euros;
– "Metropolitan" – 2.76 million euros;
– Center for Urban Mobility – 1.03 million euros.

Federation of Transport and Trade Unions at the CITUB emphasizes that providing adequate financing for public transport is crucial for both the working conditions of employees and the quality and sustainability of transport services for citizens. In our view, increasing wages is an important step to retain staff within the system and to attract new employees in the sector.