In Bulgaria, ground transport workers went on strike

A ground public transport strike is taking place in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. This was reported on May 14 by the Bulgarian National Television (BNT).

"Ground public transport in Sofia will not work after 12:00 (coincides with Moscow time. — Ed.) because of the protest of the staff," the article says.

Todor Kapitanov, vice-president of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria, told protesters in front of a tram depot in the Banishor area that the strike would continue until a meeting was organized between employees and representatives of responsible institutions — the Ministry of Finance and the Sofia Municipality.

In addition, Kapitanov noted that with the expiration of the permit for the rally, a transition to civil disobedience will be made. He instructed the institutions to decide whether the protest action would be extended. It is noted that the trade unions, among others, are ready to close major intersections of the city.

According to BNT, professional associations are convinced that the lack of communication with responsible institutions indicates that they do not show interest in public transport workers and their working conditions. It is clarified that after the announced extension of the protest, the demonstrators symbolically broke two phones: one symbolized the connection with the Ministry of Finance, the other with the Sofia City Hall.

On April 17, employees of the elite special forces of the French BRI police (rapid reaction brigades) began an indefinite strike demanding higher bonuses for recycling. According to TF1 TV channel, about 400 police officers across the country refused to work overtime. Employees believe that their work is in high demand, "but not sufficiently recognized by the state."