Strike threat in Budapest: public service workers demand answers after the government withdraws billions more from the capital
Tensions continue to rise within Budapest’s public services after the government withdrew another HUF 6.2 billion (EUR 16 million) from the city’s accounts. The Mayor has issued a stark warning about the risk of financial collapse, while representatives of public service workers are not ruling out strike action unless they receive swift and reassuring clarification on the situation.
According to HVG, the demonstration and strike committee representing approximately 27,000 municipal workers sent a letter to Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony on Thursday. The unions say the Mayor’s recent statements have caused serious concern among employees of city-owned companies and institutions, as they suggest that the operation of Budapest could already be in jeopardy this year, along with the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers.
The committee is calling on Karácsony to personally provide a detailed briefing on the city’s financial situation and explain how the new budget cuts may affect the maintenance of essential public services.
“If we do not receive a prompt and satisfactory response, we will be forced to take more radical measures — including possible work stoppages — to secure a reassuring solution,” reads the letter signed by Gábor Naszályi, President of the Unified Transport Trade Union.
The unions remind the Mayor that next year’s wage negotiations should already be underway, yet this is impossible without financial security for the current year. According to the committee, both the future of the capital’s public services and the livelihoods of its workers are now in serious danger.
Karácsony: “This is the fatal blow”
On Tuesday, the Mayor wrote on his social media page that the government had “withdrawn another HUF 6.2 billion from Budapest’s account.” Karácsony stated that the removed funds now threaten the safe operation of the city:
“This latest government levy is not the last drop in the cup — it is the fatal blow.”
According to the Mayor, a total of HUF 46 billion (EUR 118.3 million) has been taken from the capital so far, while the state provides only HUF 22 billion (EUR 56.6 million) for the municipality to fulfil its mandatory tasks. He added that even if the government were to stop deducting further sums, Budapest would still end the year in deficit.
Karácsony suspects political motives behind the withdrawals and warned:
“Those who bankrupt Budapest will be dragged down by Budapest itself.”
He emphasised that in the coming period, the city can rely only on the solidarity and cooperation of its residents.
“The government has robbed Budapest again,” Karácsony wrote:
Situation reaches a critical point
According to the unions, the capital’s operation has now reached a “critical” stage. Workers fear that public services (including public transport, district heating, and waste management) may soon become unsustainable at their current level.
Gábor Naszályi said it remains unclear how the city plans to maintain these essential services if financial resources continue to shrink at this rate. Employees are therefore legitimately worried about their wages and job security.
For now, the workers are waiting for the Mayor’s response, but if talks do not take place or fail to yield results, Budapest could soon see both strikes and demonstrations.