Bus transport in Hungary may collapse due to strike before Christmas

Drivers at Volánbusz threatened with a nationwide strike due to failed negotiations about a significant pay rise with the management of the state-owned transport company.

According to index.hu, the Wednesday talks between the nine workers’ trade unions and the leadership of the company were not successful. If MÁV-Volán does not give a pay rise offer until 1 December, bus drivers will go on strike before Christmas. That is what István Dobi, the chairman of the Szolidaritás Autóbusz-közlekedési Szakszervezet (SZAKSZ), a trade union of the bus drivers, said after the Wednesday fiasco. Since Volánbusz provides public transport everywhere in Hungary except for the cities and Budapest, the consequences, especially before the Christmas festivities, would be devastating.

Zoltán Pafféri, the CEO of Volánbusz, did not acknowledge the payrise initiative of the workers on Wednesday. He said he did not obtain an authorisation to do so. Therefore, he asked drivers to submit their proposals in writing.

Concerning 2024, members of the different trade unions of the MÁV-Volán workers would like salary increases and an expansion of their benefits package.

Here is how long the strike could last before Christmas

Workers of the state-owned transport company giant want 15-18-25% pay rise. Furthermore, the workers’ unions would like to increase the loyalty bonus, the money they get on the SZÉP card and extra money for their health insurance.

Mr Dobi said it was a big null what they achieved on the Wednesday talks, but added they would conclude the negotiations by 1 December. As a result, the increased salaries and benefits will arrive in the workers’ bank accounts from 1 January.

The warning strike of one of the nine trade unions (the SZAKSZ) may last for two days before Christmas, István Dobi said. And that will only happen if the negotiations fail by 1 December.

MÁV-Volán hopes that they can reduce the claims with year-end premiums. About possible workers’ concerns, Dobi said that they held multiple strikes during the last three decades, and nobody can fire 10,500 drivers.

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