In recent days, the Federation of Transport Trade Unions (FTTU) to CITUB organized a series of protests and demonstrations of public transport workers in Varna, Ruse, and Sofia. The actions are part of the Federation's general activities in defense of workers in the sector.

FTTU insists on a minimum 5% wage increase retroactive to January 1, securing sustainable funding for public transport, and real dialogue with state and municipal institutions.

Varna – March 9, 2026

More than 30 vehicles took part in a motorcade that blocked the Asparuhov Bridge for about an hour. Public transport workers expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of sufficient state budget funds for the sector.

During the protest actions, a meeting was held with the Mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev. At the meeting, all parties agreed on the need for dialogue and greater support from the state. The mayor expressed readiness to sign a new agreement with FTTU, but stressed that without secured state funding, the municipality cannot guarantee the necessary funds for its implementation.

Ruse – March 10, 2026

Municipal public transport employees protested demanding higher wages. The protesters organized a motorcade to the roundabout near the Arena Ruse hall, where traffic was blocked for about 30 minutes, causing traffic disruptions.

For a retroactive salary increase in the sector from January 1, approximately **0.55 million euros are needed.

Following a meeting with the Mayor of Ruse, Pencho Milkov, a press conference was held at which he declared support for the workers' right to demand decent wages and emphasized that additional state support would help fulfill the commitments made to FTTU.

Sofia – March 11, 2026

Workers from "Stolichen Elektrotransport", "Stolichen Avtotransport" and "Metropolitan" joined the demonstration in the "Tramkar" depot. The main message of the protest was the need for real dialogue with the institutions and the allocation of a state subsidy for wage increases.

Back in February, FTTU sent an official invitation to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Mayor of Sofia to visit the depot and get acquainted on-site with the working conditions. None of the invited institutions responded.

"A blockade of public transport is not expected today, which is why the flags are down on the ground. But in the absence of dialogue, the protesters will proceed to strike action," stated the Chairman of FTTU, Eng. Aleksandar Shopov.

According to FTTU calculations, a total of 8.38 million euros is needed for retroactive salary increases from January 1 in the capital's public transport, allocated as follows:

2.31 million euros for "Stolichen Avtotransport" 2.28 million euros for "Stolichen Elektrotransport"
2.76 million euros for "Metropolitan"
 and 1.03 million euros for the Center for Urban Mobility
.

FTTU will continue to insist on real wage increases, sustainable funding for the sector, and active dialogue with the institutions. Public transport workers remain united in defending decent working conditions and fair pay.