BDZ will incur a daily loss amounting to BGN 600,000 if a strike is staged

“The Bulgarian State Railways Holding (BDZ) will incur a daily loss amounting to BGN 600,000 if the workers and employees stage an effective indefinite strike,” said Vladimir Vladimirov, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the company. “Out of these, some BGN 400,000 will be in missed revenues of the BDZ Freight Services Department and the other BGN 200,000 in daily losses of the BDZ Passenger Transport Department." In the end, the effective protest will lead to the company’s bankruptcy.

About 70,000 people use railway transport every day. Between 26,000 and 27,000 people will be affected by the planned strike on November 24. According to the company’s management, about 540 buses must be provided for the transport of people in the areas affected by the strike.

"BDZ is unable to fulfil such a commitment," said Metodi Hristov, Head of the BDZ Passenger Transport Department. He added that it is not clear yet which areas will be affected. This renders the organisation of alternative transport impossible. The company has the practice of transporting passengers at short distances in emergency cases. If there is pre-sale of tickets for trains that will not travel, passengers will be compensated. The list of services which will not be carried out will be announced on the Internet site of the Railways.

The management of the State Railways said that it will not abandon the 5 planned restructuring measures. They provide for the dismissal of 2,000 workers, stopping 138 trains, the sale of non-operating assets, raising ticket prices and the sale of the BDZ Freight Services Department. The trade unions announced that, on November 24, an indefinite effective strike will be staged because of the foreseen dismissals.

Vladimirov said that the trade unions have no cause and alternative proposals. "The announced strike is illegal," said Vanya Florova, General Legal Adviser of the holding. She explained that the statutory requirements for the conclusion of agreements, ensuring appropriate transport services, have not been met. The signing of the agreement has to be done no later than three days before staging a strike and has to cover at least 50% of the volume of transport services.

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