site.btaSecurity Sector Employees Protest, Demand Higher Salaries

Employees of the Security sector staged a protest in front of Parliament’s building on Sunday, demanding higher salaries and fair payment for their labour. The protest was organized by the trade union federation of Interior Ministry employees, with the support of the trade union of prison staff in Bulgaria. Police officers, firefighters, and warders from across the country took part in the protest.  

Iliya Kouzmanov, deputy head of the Interior Ministry employees’ trade union federation, said that the protest is not political. “For 13 years we have had only social, economic, labour, and professional rights, and we are defending them.” The demands include a 20 per cent pay raise, better working conditions, as well as improvement of the material base and personal protective equipment; this is to be achieved through the 2022 State Budget Bill that is yet to undergo a second-reading vote in Parliament.

On Saturday, a similar protest was staged by firefighters, organized by the Ogneborets National Fire and Rescue Trade Union.