After a series of meetings and negotiations between the trade unions and the management of

"Urban Transport" – Varna, at which no agreement was reached on

the main demands of the employees, and in the absence of a signed Collective

Labor Agreement, tension within the company continues to rise.

At the general assemblies held, nearly 200 employees unanimously declared

their readiness to launch protest actions due to the employer's refusal

to accept their demands, including:

• wage increase of 200 euros;

• increase in food allowance;

• increase in night work premium;

• improvement of social benefits;

• improvement of working conditions;

• concluding a new Collective Labor Agreement.

The Chairman of the Federation of Transport Trade Unions Eng.

Alexander Shopov, together with the chairperson of the trade union organization

Pavlina Nikolova, informed the gathered workers that already

over 40% of the signatures required to launch effective strike

actions have been collected.

"All attendees – over 200 people, unanimously declared that they want to

protest here and now," stated Eng. Alexander Shopov to Daniela

Stoynova - BNR correspondent in Varna.

FTTU remains open to dialogue and is ready to hold a meeting with the mayor of

Varna Municipality, with whom a good social partnership and constructive

communication have been established over the years. We believe that through dialogue, solutions can

be found in the interest of the employees and the citizens of

Varna.

At the same time, transport workers can no longer wait

for the adoption of the municipal budget. It is already evident that the state budget

does not provide additional funds for public urban transport

in Varna, which severely limits the opportunities for improving

remuneration and working conditions. Therefore, FTTU insists that all

responsible institutions take immediate action and not allow

the problems to be postponed yet again.

FTTU categorically declares that it will continue to defend the right of

transport workers to decent pay, a fair Collective

Labor Agreement, and better working conditions.

The Federation will stand by the employees in their just fight for

decent income, security, and respect for their labor.

In the coming days, the trade union organizations of FTTU-CITUB and FTR "Podkrepa"

will set a date for the protest actions. If by then

no agreement is reached and no real steps are taken to

meet the main demands of the employees, there is a real

possibility that the protest will lead to serious disruptions in the services of

public transport, and the city of Varna and its residents and guests might

temporarily remain without urban transport.