Employees of Bulgarian Postal Operator Stage Protest

Transport Minister Danail Papazov announced on September 3 that a strategic partner would be found for Bulgarian Posts EAD by the end of the month which would acquire 49% of the company in order to guarantee efficient and professional management. Photo by

Employees of state-owned postal operator Bulgarian Posts EAD will stage a protest Wednesday in front of the government building in downtown Sofia.

The protesters will demand the transfer of the due compensation by the state for the universal postal service and an increase in salaries, and will oppose what they see as an attempt at covert privatization of the company, according to reports of Sega daily.

Transport Minister Danail Papazov announced on September 3 that a strategic partner would be found for Bulgarian Posts EAD by the end of the month which would acquire 49% of the company in order to guarantee efficient and professional management.

Over 1200 people have expressed willingness to take part in Wednesday's protest, according to Penka Krasteva, Deputy Chair of the Communications unit of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB).

The employees of Bulgarian Posts EAD also intend to stage a strike in early October, at a time when pensions for October are to be paid through their offices.

Despite the assurances of the Transport Ministry that it will seek BGN 6.5 M to transfer a part of the due compensation, employees of the state-owned postal operator will hold a protest march which will end with the submission of a declaration to the Council of Ministers.

Apart from the compensation of BGN 20 M for the universal postal service, employees of Bulgarian Posts EAD also seek a salary increase by at least 10% as of October or November. They also adamantly oppose the plans of the government to seek a strategic partner for the company.

According to Penka Krasteva, the attempt to find a strategic investor is actually an attempt at covert privatization.

She emphasizes that employees of Bulgarian Posts EAD do not want the company closed but would like to see a stabilization program implemented so that the postal operator can keep functioning.

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