Trade union protest over 2014 budget plans

More than 8,000 people joined a protest against Bulgaria’s 2014 budget in a trade union organised rally. The marchers gathered at the country’s parliament building on 20 November 2013 demanding more help for people struggling because of the financial crisis, and for the sectors most affected by austerity measures. The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria organised the protest and set out its demands and proposals in a Declaration presented to parliament.

Background

In early autumn 2013, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) carried out its Trade union barometer 2013 survey. Against a background of severe political and socio-economic conditions, CITUB wished to consult with its members in order to formulate its position.

A series of protests were held across the country by people demanding the resignation of the Bulgarian Government. Protesters called on the trade unions to join in their action.

The results of the survey showed that union members want action on socio-economic issues such as pay, pensions, workers’ rights and jobs. CITUB used the results of the survey to define its position on a number of issues. The result was a decision to organise a protest and make a series of formal social and economic demands, although stopping short of calling for the government to resign.

On 7 October 2013, CITUB held a panel discussion called Decent work in Bulgaria. Delegates demanded improvements in income and job security, protection of union and labour rights.

Bulgaria’s other national trade union federation, the Confederation of Labour (Podkrepa), refused to join the protest. Instead it called for the government to resign.

CITUB instead decided to leave the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation on the grounds that some government proposals in the draft budget had not been discussed by the social partners.

Protest rally and union demands

CITUB organised a national protest rally held on 20 November 2013 to demonstrate against the draft 2014 budget under the slogan ‘Hearing the voice of working Bulgaria’. More than 8,000 trade unionists from all over the country joined the call for the protection of social, economic and trade union rights. The protesters presented a formal Declaration of their demands to the Bulgarian Parliament.

The CITUB declaration included:

• a refund of annual income tax to more than 500,000 workers whose monthly salary is BGN400 (€204 as at 22 January 2014) or less;
• a minimum 10% wage increase for administrative workers;
• legislation to criminalise non-payment of social insurance;
• the freezing of pension reforms for seven years and further negotiations over any future reforms, particularly those covering the retirement of workers who work in dangerous or physically demanding occupations such as miners, steelworkers.
• equal access to health services for all;
• an immediate five-year recovery plan for the energy sector and a long-term energy strategy;
• guarantees for fundamental civil rights, including union rights and the right to strike at national, sectoral and branch levels;
• the urgent adoption of anti-corruption and anti-trust legislation, and guarantees of ‘citizen participation’ in control and regulatory bodies.

CITUB is demanding urgent measures in the energy industry because the sector has run up debts of BGN 3 billion (€1.5 billion) which threaten the entire national economy.

Wider support for the protest

The protest was widely supported by European and international trade union organisations including ETUC, the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), the International Trade Union Confederation of (ITUC), and Public Services International (PSI).

There was further trade union support from European confederations, including from the General Federation of Belgian Labour (FGTB), the Austrian Trade Union Federation (OGB), the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP-IN), the General Confederation of Labour in France (CGT), Poland’s Independent Self-governing Trade Union (Solidarnosc), the Pancyprian Federation of Labour in Cyprus (PEO), the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB), and the National Trade Union Confederation of Romania (Cartel Alfa).

Government and employer reaction

The protest came as a surprise to the government. It considered that 19 out of 30 of the union demands had already been addressed, with some either in progress or included in the draft budget.

Employers were strongly opposed to several of the demands. These included the freezing of pension reforms, tax being returned to those on the lowest incomes, and setting and negotiating the minimum wage at branch level.

Commentary

CITUB says it will consider the protest to have been a success if some the issues are resolved in the new budget. It should be pointed out that although the two trade union organisations did not come together to protest at the CITUB-organised event, this does not mean they are divided. They have pledged to act together in future to protect the labour and social rights of workers.

Tatiana Mihailova, ISTUR