The Federation of Transport Trade Unions (FTTU) to CITUB took an active part in the international conference “Building Workers' Capacity to Participate in a Just Transition”, held in the period May 27-29, 2026, in Sofia under the JustWork project at the invitation of CITUB. The event brought together representatives of trade union confederations, employers' organizations and experts from Bulgaria, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Serbia, who discussed the role of workers in the processes of democracy in the workplace, social dialogue and the just transition to a more sustainable and modern economy.

FTTU was represented by its Chairman, Eng. Aleksandar Shopov, who presented the activities of the federation, the challenges facing the transport sector in Bulgaria and the results of consistent trade union actions to improve working conditions, income and social protection of workers. In his presentation, he emphasized the need for transport workers to be an active party in the processes of digital and green transformation, and not just the subject of decisions made without their participation.

From the side of FTTU, representatives of the trade union organizations in "Metropolitan" EAD and "Stolichen Elektrotransport" EAD also participated in the conference, who exchanged experience with colleagues from European partner organizations and presented good practices in the field of social dialogue, collective bargaining and the protection of the rights of workers in public transport.

In his speech, the Chairman of FTTU emphasized the importance of real social dialogue and worker participation in decision-making: “Transport workers are not just implementers of decisions. They are carriers of experience, expertise and practical knowledge. Therefore, when we talk about a just transition, we must ensure that their voice is heard and that they actively participate in making decisions about the future of the sector.”

Eng. Shopov also presented the activities of FTTU as the youngest federation in the structure of CITUB, which already unites over 4500 trade union members from land, air and water transport. He acquainted the participants with the efforts of the federation to increase incomes, improve working conditions and ensure decent representation of workers in decision-making processes at both national and European level.

As part of the program organized by the host CITUB, FTTU organized a special visit for the guests from the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (ÖGB) to the Sofia metro. The international delegation had the opportunity to visit the Central Dispatch Control Room of "Metropolitan" EAD and the metro station "Georgi Asparuhov" under construction on the third line of the metro.

During the visit, the colleagues from ÖGB got acquainted in detail with the organization of dispatching activity, the working methodology, the modern systems for management and safety of the metro, as well as with the progress on the construction of the new metro station. Of particular interest were the high level of automation, the modern technologies for traffic control and the complex organization of the work process in one of the most important elements of the capital's public transport.

The guests were highly impressed by both the professionalism and expertise of the workers in "Metropolitan" EAD, and by the development of the metro as a modern, safe and ecological transport system. The visit created excellent opportunities for the exchange of good practices and professional experience between transport workers from Bulgaria and Austria.

With the active participation of FTTU in the conference and the organization of the visit to the Sofia metro, the international guests had the opportunity to get closely acquainted with both the good practices in the Bulgarian transport sector and the work of one of the most modern transport enterprises in the country. The event once again demonstrated the active role of CITUB and the Federation of Transport Trade Unions in the development of international trade union cooperation, the exchange of knowledge and experience between European partners and the establishment of social dialogue as a key tool for the protection of employment, social and trade union rights of workers.