FTTU has been warning for months - The lack of a Budget is disastrous!

Federation of Transport and Trade Unions (FTTU) reminds that as early as the end of last year, it issued clear and categorical warnings that the refusal to adopt a state budget would lead to serious social tension, a collapse in key public sectors, and inevitable protest actions.

Instead of a stable macroeconomic and budget framework guaranteeing income growth, adequate support, and sustainable investments, the National Assembly chose the path of political impotence by adopting the so-called “extension law” of Budget 2025, which will be applied for at least three months, with a real risk of extending until mid-2026.

What this means for workers:

The refusal to adopt a budget for 2026 has severe and directly measurable consequences for workers in the public sector:

• Freezing of wages and a fall in the planned increase of 10%;

• Lack of over 1 billion euros intended for the salary increase of nearly 600,000 workers;

• Indexation of incomes with inflation levels around 3–5%, which is utterly insufficient against the backdrop of continuously rising prices and increasing living costs;

• Intensification of social tension and a real risk of mass protest actions in the public sector.

According to information released in the public space and media, a real danger is already being discussed in part of the municipalities that enterprises will face difficulties or an inability to pay wages in the coming months if urgent financial solutions are not provided. Such a scenario is unacceptable and threatens social peace.

Critical situation in urban transport:

The lack of budget predictability deepens the crisis in urban transport – not only in the capital but also throughout the country.

In municipal transport companies, adequate funding continues to be lacking, leading to:

• Inability to realistically increase wages;

• Underfunded maintenance for the mobile fleet, depots, and transport infrastructure;

• Continued shortage of drivers, mechanics, and technical staff;

• Extremely harsh working conditions – outdated and worn mobile units, lack of normal sanitary and living conditions, high levels of stress, and workload for workers.

The shortage of funds is particularly acute in the urban transports of Sofia, Varna, Ruse, Pleven, and other large cities, where municipal budgets are under serious pressure, and transport operators are functioning on the brink of survival. The risk of cuts, line restrictions, and deterioration of transport services for citizens is entirely real.

Position of FTTU:

The lack of budget predictability and social stability represents a serious threat both to the country's economy and the trust in state institutions.

Federation of Transport and Trade Unions clearly states that the lack of a budget inevitably leads to social tension.

FTTU categorically does not accept that workers should pay the price of political irresponsibility!