site.btaNational Media Employees to Rally, Demand Higher Wages on Thursday

A national protest demanding the funds for higher salaries for the employees of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) will be organized in Sofia on Thursday, the organizers from the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Podkrepa Labour Confederation announced in BTA's press club here on Monday. A similar protest was organized on March 20.

The campaign under the slogan "Labour in the media has value" will block the intersection in front of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski at noon. Other events will also take place across the country as part of the protest.

The protest will demand a minimum wage increase of 15%, CITUB Vice President Todor Kapitanov said. The required funds from the state budget are as follows: BGN 5 million for BNR, BGN 6 million for BNT, and BGN 3 million for BTA. Kapitanov emphasized that the aim is to increase the pay of journalists, editors, camera operators, directors, technicians, singers, and orchestrators, including those working in private media.

Kapitanov said that a sit-down with the Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova will be requested. If no such meeting can take place, the protesters will expect her to attend the protest.