Category Archives: Railways

OPT in Bulgaria: developing a campaign on many levels

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For a second year in a row, in September 2018, the Federation of transport trade unions in Bulgaria (FTTUB) took part in the European mobility week (EMW) with a second wave of ‘Our Public Transport’ campaign – which FTTUB develops in Bulgaria since 1 May 2017.

Last year, we introduced the OPT campaign to the wider trade union movement during CITUB’s 8th congress, which was attended by delegates from all industrial sectors in Bulgaria; and honored by guests from ITUC – the Deputy Secretary-General Jaap Wienen; and the European Economic and Social Council – Georges Dassis, president of the Workers’ Group at EESC. OPT was presented at the conference “A Future for Labor, a Future for Young People in Europe” organized by the International Youth Forum in Sofia. Later on, during EMW 2017 in September, we worked in partnership with Sofia municipality and the local public transport companies (bus, tram and trolley, metro and urban mobility centre) to draw the attention of the citizens of Sofia to the important role and the benefits of a publicly owned urban transport. At the open-door days during EMW 2017 for each company, FTTUB brought the spotlight on the transport workers. Citizens had the chance to experience first-hand our jobs at our workplaces and thus better appreciate our role as the people who give life to OPT. We also presented the results of a survey we have conducted proving that an increase in the number of women drivers leads to an improved working environment, better service for passengers and more profits for the companies in the entire urban transport sector.

In 2018, we opened our OPT campaign to other big cities in Bulgaria, and  used the EMW 2018 to once more draw public attention towards public transport.

 

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Trade union leaders at ‘Metropoliten EAD’ on a meeting with FTTUB president

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On 8 February, trade union leaders from the organization at Sofia’s metro operator ‘Metropoliten EAD’ met with the president of the Federation of Transport Trade Unions in Bulgaria (FTTUB) Ekaterina Yordanova at FTTUB headquarters. During the meeting, the FTTUB team reviewed FTTUB’s 2018 priorities, the important campaigns and the key events that are ahead. Among the campaigns, the ETF’s ‘Fair Transport’ 2.0 campaign received special attention. In her speech, Ekaterina Yordanova highly appreciated the role of the organization at ‘Metropoliten EAD’ in negotiating better incomes and working conditions in the Company’s CBA, which was signed at the end of last year. Прочети още →

Vitosha metro station has been opened

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2016-07-20 12.13.19A greeting speech of the Sofia Mayor Fandakova gave start to the opening ceremony of the metro station “Vitosha” yesterday, July 20th. She welcomed union representatives too. On the St Ilia’s day the newly built feature was celebrated with a traditional Christian ritual of inauguration and at 2 PM the regular traffic started. But the first train entered the station and stopped in it while it was presented to the official guests.
Among them were the prime minister, the ministers of transport, finance, culture, the representative of the European Commission in Bulgaria, National Assembly deputies and municipal councilors, including, of course, the chairman of the Metropolitan Committee for Transport and Tourism Ekaterina Yordanova. Both with her colleague Mr. Barbalov, Vice – Mayor and Chairman of the Finance Committee, they received special thanks from Mayor Yordanka Fandakova. She stressed that the project would not be carried out without the assistance of the government, the EC and the structural funds, but also without the people who worked on it – employees of the metropolitan Metropolitan headed by the Executive Director Eng. Bratoev, designers and builders. Some of them were rewarded for their excellent, efficient and timely completed work. The Prime Minister Borisov joined the congratulations. Прочети още →

Equality between all modes of transport

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The state policy of equal opportunities for development for all modes of transport was the subject of a scientific conference in Sofia, which took place on March 31. The conference was organized by the Scientific and Technical Union for Transport, the Federation of Scientific Unions in Bulgaria and the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications. The event was attended by representatives of FTTUB headed by the president of the federation Ekaterina Yordanova, who greeted the participants. Прочети още →

Seventh congress of the Union of Railway workers in Bulgaria

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Consolidation and unity of positions – that was the message that came from both the CITUB’s President and the President of FTTUB Ekaterina Yordanova’s greeting speeches on the Seventh Congress of the URB on March 10 in Sofia. The event took place a day after the official signing of the collective agreements for the three state-owned railway companies – BDZ Holding, “Passenger transportation” and “Freight transportation”. At the signing ceremony, all parties highlighted the atmosphere of understanding and agreement during negotiations among stakeholders.
Organisations have even more reasons for consensus if they affiliate to the same confederation, especially when consolidation is part of its program. That was another point of unanimity between FTTUB and URB leaders.
In the same context, Yordanova stressed the importance of active participation in the initiatives of the European and global unions – our larger families. “World solidarity is a huge force in the protection of our human and trade union rights,” she said.

ECI Fair Transport Europe – our “Yes” to social justice in transport

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On December 8, at the ETF premises in Brussels was held a meeting of national representatives in the collecting signatures campaign within ECI Fair transport Europe for social justice in transport. The meeting was attended by Eduardo Chagas, ETF General Secretary. The countries’ representatives reported activities and challenges. Best practices were identified in all seven steps of the campaign. The most important seems to be the clear message: for better transport services through quality employment – in all modes of transport and for all EU citizens in all members-states. Прочети още →

Celebrating International Volunteer Day

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On December 5, the International Volunteer Day, FTTUB and the “European future” foundation paid tribute to volunteerism by awarding honorary diplomas and certificates to their volunteers who actively participated in the activities and the events of the two organisations. The ceremony was held on the beautiful site of Sofia History Museum. Nadezhda Staneva was leading the event.
FTTUB President Ekaterina Yordanova welcomed the participants with the words: “You are probably wondering how come unions, which preach that each work should be rewarded fairly, develop volunteering. Union membership and trade union activity in their own way are volunteerism. They mean personal time and effort sacrificed in the name of common good and excellence for all. Volunteerism is in the heart of trade unionism. ”
Yordanova recalled that last year FTTUB and the “European future” foundation, with the invaluable support of Sofia Municipality and Karlovo Municipality, organized and realized a number of initiatives. Прочети още →

Railway section with a seminar and a study

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On 4 and 5 November 2015, at the ITF headquarters in London, the FTTUB representatives Daniela Zlatkova and Nadezhda Staneva participated in a seminar on “Perspectives for employment and training of staff in railway companies.”
At the seminar, a study on the promotion of employment and quality of work in the European rail sector was presented. The study had three focus points: Прочети още →

Protest of European railway workers on the 4th railway package

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Today, October 8, the European Ministers of Transport meet in Luxembourg to discuss and possibly adopt a common approach on the political pillar of the 4th railway package. On this occasion and within the ITF’s Action week under the motto “Transport workers fighting back! Organizing globally”, the Railway transport section of ETF organizes a protest in front of the building where the meeting of the Council of Ministers takes place. With their protest, European railway workers demand for: Прочети още →

WORLD DAY FOR DECENT WORK

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The date 7 October was chosen in 2008 by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to mark the World Day for Decent Work. Since then this day is celebrated in more than 130 countries worldwide. The term “decent work” was introduced by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and has become a focus of the industrial relations.
On this date millions of trade unionists bring together their actions and efforts to achieve a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for their families. Прочети още →