Tensions are escalating at Bulgaria’s West Electricity Distribution Networks JCS (Elektrorazpredelitelni mreji Zapad AD) as numerous emergency team employees submit resignation applications, citing dissatisfaction with low salaries.
The growing unrest poses a serious threat to power supply in ten regions, including key areas such as Razlog and Montana, just as the holiday season approaches.
While the company claims that only ten resignation applications have been filed across its workforce of 3,000 employees, workers are contesting this, alleging that hundreds of applications have been submitted and accusing management of downplaying the scale of the issue.
The workers’ concerns have intensified with the premature dismissal of several employees, including Emil Preshelkov, who claims that his firing was an attempt by management to intimidate others into retracting their resignation applications.
Preshelkov, speaking to bTV, presented photographic evidence and records showing that the true number of resignations is much higher than the company acknowledges.
“Over 300 employees are prepared to leave,” he said, adding that his dismissal, along with those of four other workers, had only heightened tensions within the workforce.
His statements were corroborated by other dismissed employees, such as Ivan Belchev, who warned that the absence of emergency staff would leave several regions vulnerable to prolonged power outages.
“Half of Southwestern Bulgaria will have to rely on the few remaining colleagues who haven’t resigned,” Belchev said. “This could mean days without electricity for many.”
The dispute centers around the dissatisfaction of emergency teams who argue that their salaries are not commensurate with the high-risk nature of their work and the specialized skills required.
Despite the physically demanding and often dangerous nature of their jobs, workers are paid less than 1,500 leva per month (roughly 750 euros), even after overtime is factored in.
Employees have been vocal about their desire for dialogue with management to address their concerns, but they say that instead of negotiation, management has opted for dismissals and other punitive actions.
Former employees have also raised concerns about the potential impact of these resignations on the company’s ability to respond to emergencies.
With fewer emergency teams in operation, there are fears that power outages caused by accidents or natural disasters could take much longer to resolve, leaving residents in vulnerable areas without electricity for extended periods.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the company operates in regions with significant infrastructure challenges.
Despite the growing number of resignations, the company has dismissed concerns about a potential crisis. A spokesperson for West Electricity Distribution Networks insisted that there was no indication of increased staff turnover and reassured the public that there would be no risk to electricity supply.
However, employees from several regions, including Razlog and Montana, have dismissed this claim, asserting that morale is at an all-time low, and the company’s failure to address the issue could have dire consequences.
As the holiday season looms, the situation remains critical, with employees standing firm on their decision to resign unless their grievances are addressed.
With tensions running high, the outcome of this dispute could have far-reaching implications for Bulgaria’s electricity supply in the coming weeks.