Bulgaria
EPSU’s South East Europe constituency meeting tackles gender equality, recruitment and collective bargaining
EPSU’s south east European Constituency meeting, which met in Sofia 28-29 March 2017, held in-depth discussions on the persistence of the gender pay gap and what could be done to reduce inequality through collective bargaining.
Major pay boost for healthworkers
(October 2016) After six months of negotiations the health unions from the CITUB and Podkrepa confederations have negotiated a new collective agreement with the Mnistry of Health and health employers that includes pay increases of between 15% and 40% for healthworkers. The increases are part of an attempt to stem the flow of trained staff out of the country and include a 30% increase on the minimum wage in the sector.
Strike by Social Assistance Agency employees
Members of the PK Admin trade union employed by the Social Assistance Agency took strike action on 9 July in support of demands for a 20% pay increase and improvements to other working conditions. The union argues that many workers in the Agency are paid close to the minimum wage and on average much below workers in other government departments. The union will consider further action if the government doesn't come up with an appropriate offer. [Read more at > mediapool news website (BG)->http://www.mediapool.bg/sotsialnite-rabotnitsi-obmislyat-bezsrochna-stachka-ili-masovo-napuskane-ako-ne-im
Protests over pay and labour rights
Thousands of trade unionists joined a demonstration in Sofia on 20 November to protest over government policies, including specific calls for higher pay and protection of labour rights. Health workers from EPSU's FTU-HS affiliate were among those supporting the protest, calling in particular for a 20% pay rise for the sector. Read more at > EPSU
New agreement in health sector
A new national collective labour agreement in the healthcare sector was signed last month by the Minister of Health, trade unions and employer organisations. The agreement is a result of lengthy negotiations in the Sectoral Council for Tripartite Cooperation in Healthcare and applies to all health facilities. The agreement protects existing social benefits and provides for an increase in monthly salaries of between 10% and 20%. Employees who work on on-call receive increases in their hourly payments and the payment for night shift work is doubled. The agreement is backdated to 1 July 2012.
Trade unions negotiate deal on pensions
Last year, after threats of industrial action, trade unions managed to negotiate changes to the government’s plans for pension reforms. Retirement ages and the number of years of contributions required for a full pension are being introduced but over several years and not coming fully into effect until 2020 and 2021. Read more at > Sofia Echo news website (EN)
Conference debates need for action on violence against health staff
The Federation of Trade Unions in Health Services (FTU-HS) organized a roundtable last month with the Bulgarian Association of Health Professionals (BAHP) to discuss how to tackle violence against healthworkers. The trade unionists and professionals were joined by government representatives. A study by the FTU-HS found 7.5% of health workers had been victims of violence with nurses making up the biggest group. The union said it would establish a committee with the BAHP involving also the Bulgarian Medical Association and patients’ organisation to look at ways of tackling violence.
Government calls for cuts in jobs or pay
Pressure to reduce public spending has led the government to call for 10% cuts across ministries and publicly funded organisations. This could mean pay freezes or job cuts, although some ministries appear to be excluded from the imposition of a pay freeze. There are also demands to reduce high salaries in some departments and agencies. Read more at > Sofia Echo (EN)
Government suspends talks over higher pension age
The government has said that discussions over increasing the pension age to 65 from 63 for men and from 60 for women have been suspended. The government says that the economic situation means that its priorities now are focused on the labour market and health reform. Read more at > Novinite news website (EN)
Thousands join trade union protest over government response to the crisis
The CITUB trade union confederation organised a national demonstration in Sofia on 16 June in protest at the government’s failure to protect the poor, low-paid and unemployed in the current crisis. Workers from across the public and private sectors joined the demonstration. Unions have also criticised government plans to freeze public sector pay instead of implementing an agreed 10% pay increase. Read more at > Reuters (EN)