Sofia, June 27 — Public transport workers in Bulgaria’s capital are set to receive a long-awaited salary increase, following months of labor unrest and negotiations with municipal authorities. The Sofia Municipal Council has approved a retroactive wage hike of BGN 300 per month for employees in the city’s transport sector, effective from April 1.
The decision was formalized through the adoption of the city’s Transport Framework, a strategic plan aimed at stabilizing and improving working conditions within Sofia’s municipal transport companies, including those operating buses, trams, and trolleybuses.
The announcement marks a significant step forward in resolving one of the most contentious labor disputes in recent memory. In May, public transport across Sofia came to a grinding halt for six consecutive days, as workers launched a citywide strike demanding better pay and more secure working conditions.
The strike severely disrupted daily commutes for thousands of residents and underscored the growing dissatisfaction among the city’s transport workforce.
Despite a preliminary agreement to increase wages, tensions resurfaced this week when transport workers staged another protest, citing delays in the disbursement of the promised BGN 300 salary supplement. Workers voiced frustration that, although the raise had been agreed upon, they had yet to see the funds reflected in their paychecks.
Carlos Contrera, a municipal councilor from the nationalist VMRO party and a key figure in the council’s transport commission, attributed the delay to procedural issues. “The city’s budget was returned for reconsideration by Mayor Vasil Terziev at the end of May,” Contrera said. “This created a bottleneck in processing the salary adjustments, but we are now back on track.”
According to Contrera, with the Municipal Council’s recent vote, funds have now been secured and the wage increases will be applied retroactively. This means that transport workers will not only see higher paychecks moving forward, but they will also receive compensation for the months since the new rate was supposed to take effect.
Reactions from transport unions have been cautiously optimistic. While the retroactive adjustment is a positive development, union leaders have emphasized that further steps are needed to ensure long-term stability in the sector. They are calling for more regular dialogue with city officials and additional investment in public transport infrastructure and staffing.
Mayor Terziev, who came under criticism during the initial wave of protests for perceived inaction, has yet to issue a formal statement following the council’s latest decision. However, sources within the municipality suggest that his administration is working to improve communication with labor representatives and prevent further disruptions.
The wage increase is expected to ease tensions in the short term, but public transport workers and union leaders have made it clear that they will remain vigilant. If future promises are not met in a timely fashion, more demonstrations may follow.
For now, though, the capital’s transport system remains operational, and workers are anticipating their long-overdue pay boost—an acknowledgment of their vital role in keeping Sofia moving.