2013 Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights - Bulgaria

No adequate legal protection: The law does not provide adequate protection against acts of interference by employers. Strikes are hindered by excessive legal prerequisites requiring the majority of all workers in an enterprise to vote in favour of strike action (sec. 11 (2) Collective Labour Disputes Settlement Act). Civil servants do not have the right to collective bargaining or the right to strike. Railway workers are also excessively restricted in their right to strike as the law establishes broad minimum services in railway services. Sec. 51 Railway Transport Act of 2000 determines that workers must provide the population with satisfactory transport services corresponding to no less than 50 per cent of the volume of transportation that was provided before the strike.

Refusal to bargain in good faith and anti-union discrimination against union leaders: "Toploficatzija – Sofia" SA failed to renegotiate a collective agreement in good faith with the Independent Trade Union Organisation of Energy Workers. The Chair of the union at the enterprise has been dismissed in order to exclude her from the collective bargaining process. In addition, the Chair of the union has been denied access to the company premises for meetings with union members.

The company "Brikel" has been refusing to bargain with the Independent Trade Union Organisation of Energy Workers and imposes the payment of an association fee. This issue has been raised with the labour inspectorate.

Attacks against union premises and property: In response to a strike, the Federation of the Railway Workers has been denied access to its offices by "Holding BDZ". Subsequently, union property, including the Chair's telephone, was seized by the employer without its consent.