National Social Security Institute Employees Go on Nationwide Warning Strike

Yoanna Vodenova

National Social Security Institute employees on strike in Sofia, May 25, 2023 (BTA Photo)

Sofia,

25.05.2023 12:12

(BTA)

National Social Security Institute employees went on a nationwide warning strike on Thursday. Workers demand a 30% increase in the funds the government allocates for their wages.

The strike is organized by NSSI chapters of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Podkrepa Labour Confederation.

CITUB Vice President Todor Kapitanov said that about 200 people have gathered in Sofia and about 2,200 are striking across the country.

Employees in Plovdiv went on an hour-long strike without stopping their services to citizens.

There are 240 people working in the regional NSSI office in Plovdiv. Marieta Andonova said that the workload and the responsibility are very big. She pointed out that the employees of the NSSI were offended that during the pandemic they were not rewarded for not returning people and their work during the period was 30% more. She said the employees' salaries were lower than the national average wage as of March, which was BGN 1,410.

If the demands of the people are not heard, the employees will switch to effective strike action. This means stopping any payments - pensions, sick leave, unemployment, Andonova said and expressed hope that things would not come to that.

About 80 employees were striking in the Danube city of Silistra. They were adamant that if their demands are not heard their protest actions will continue.

Strikes were also held in Vratsa, Kardzhali, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse, Dobrich, and Lovech.

/DT/