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

The protests are organized after the first draft of the so-called extension law did not provide for an increase in remuneration for workers in a number of public sectors, including transport. According to the FTTU, this creates serious social tension among workers and deepens the problems of 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 state provide the necessary resources in the budget.

March 9 – protest of workers in "Urban Transport – Varna"

The workers and employees in "Urban Transport – Varna" will hold a protest motorcade and a rally on the Asparuhov Bridge.

The motorcade will start at 11:00 AM from 48 Troyna Str. and will follow this route:
48 Troyna Str. – Hristo Smirnenski Blvd. – Dimitar Polyanov Str. – Georgi Peyachevich Str. – Devnya Str. – Cherno More Highway – Asparuhov Bridge.

A protest rally will be held on the bridge from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, during which the workers will state their demands for securing funds for a minimum of 5% increase in basic monthly salaries, retroactively from January 1, 2026.

According to the calculations of the trade union organization, the financial resources needed for this increase amount to EUR 1.3 million.

March 10 – protest of workers in "Urban Transport – Ruse"

The protest in Ruse will start at 9:00 AM and will continue until 6:00 PM, blocking the traffic of some of the bus lines in the city.

A complete closure of the roadway on Treti Mart Blvd. is planned in the area of the roundabout and the intersection with General Nikola Ribarov Str. in the Western Industrial Zone.

As a result of the protest actions, bus lines No. 2, No. 9, No. 24, No. 16, and No. 19 will be blocked.

The workers demand that the state provide funds from the budget for at least a 5% increase in basic monthly salaries, retroactively from January 1, 2026. For this purpose, EUR 0.55 million is required.

March 11 – meeting with representatives of institutions in Sofia

Urban transport workers and employees in Sofia have invited the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Mayor of Sofia Municipality to visit one of their workplaces and personally get acquainted with the working conditions.

The meeting is scheduled for 8:30 AM on March 11 at the "Tramkar" division of "Stolichan Electrotransport" EAD.

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

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

– "Stolichan Avtotransport" – EUR 2.31 million;
– "Stolichan Electrotransport" – EUR 2.28 million;
– "Metropolitan" – EUR 2.76 million;
– Centre for Urban Mobility – EUR 1.03 million.

We, the Federation of Transport Trade Unions, emphasize that providing adequate funding for public transport is key both for the working conditions of the employees and for the quality and sustainability of transport services for citizens. In our view, salary growth is an important step to retain staff in the system and to attract new employees to the sector.