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Bulgarian railway unions demand voluntary transition to Ivconi Express
Railway unions in Bulgaria are expressing significant concern regarding the upcoming transition of staff from the state-owned BDZ to the private operator Ivconi Express. The transition, which is part of a 12-year agreement for Ivconi Express to handle 25% of passenger rail services, is scheduled to begin around December 13.
Petar Bunev, chairman of the Railway Workers' Union at KNSB, and Mario Ninov of the Podkrepa Trade Union, have both emphasized that the movement of personnel must be voluntary. They report a lack of clarity regarding how employees will be transferred and have noted tension caused by unofficial information suggesting staff might be reassigned without explicit consent.
While the Ministry of Transport has indicated that approximately 580 to 813 employees are slated to move to the private operator under existing labor conditions, union leaders argue that workers must be fully informed to make their own decisions. They have called for meetings involving the ministry, both operators, and union representatives to clarify details regarding wages, working conditions, and long-term job security.
Entities
BDZ · Bulgarian State Railways · Gorna Oryahovitsa · Ivconi Express · KNSB · Mario Ninov · Ministry of Transport · Petar Bunev
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ivconi Express is set to take over 25% of passenger railway transport. fakti.bg
- [● 2 SOURCES] The union requests that the collective labor agreement continues to operate for one year after the transition. fakti.bg
- [● 3 SOURCES] The union proposes that the transition process be voluntary and that employees be fully informed. ruse.news · fakti.bg
- [● 2 SOURCES] The agreements between BDZ and Ivconi Express are scheduled to begin on December 13, 2026. fakti.bg
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ministry of Transport plans for 813 BDZ employees to transition to the private operator. fakti.bg
- [● 2 SOURCES] The union has sent official letters to the Minister of Transport, BDZ, and Ivconi Express. fakti.bg
- [● 3 SOURCES] At the Gorna Oryahovitsa depot, 79 drivers are expected to move to Ivconi Express and 60 to remain with BDZ. ruse.news · fakti.bg
- [● 2 SOURCES] The railway contracts for the three lots have a term of 12 years. fakti.bg