Roadblocks by protesting miners and energy workers remain despite agreement

The protesting energy workers and miners, who have blocked traffic on Trakia motorway for five days, will remain on the road at least until noon on October 4. They are waiting to find out whether the agreement, negotiated with the government, will come into force, after which their next actions will become clear.

Speaking to BNT on October 3, the leader of "Podkrepa" trade union, Dimitar Manolov, said that "Podkrepa" and CITUB trade union do not approve of the agreement. Part of the trade unions did not sign the agreement on the territorial plans, he said.

Earlier in the day, protesters were disappointed by the decision not to broadcast the meeting in the National Assembly between the prime minister, parliamentary parties and trade unions online. The protesting energy workers got informed by various Facebook profiles of those present in the meeting, but due to poor acoustics they could not follow all that was said.

The protesters at the Pass of the Republic also stated their disagreement with the agreement signed in Parliament. According to them, the negotiations took place to "close their eyes" and at this point they do not want to lift the blockade of the Pass.

"We have read the points of the agreement, we have been informed, but we do not like them. Windows are left with which there is an opportunity to manoeuvre. There should be more specificity, precise and clear figures and parameters. There should be more mention of the people who work," a protester said.

"There is nothing specific in these points. None! Nothing new."

BNT: Will you stop the blockade?

- "No, because we're fighting for our children, for energy, that's what we're here for."

Those protesting on Struma motorway insisted they want to see signed documents before lifting the roadblock.

"The road will remain blocked until we see what they have signed. We have no idea what has been signed...., We have no idea if what is being said on TV is true or not."

“We will wait until tomorrow. Once everything is signed then we can have some confidence... We are waiting for everything signed."

The number of protesters on Struma motorway grew today as workers at Pernik district heating and TPP Republic joined their colleagues from Bobov Dol and Dupnitsa. As a sign of sympathy with the demands of their colleagues from the country, energy workers from TPP Sliven closed the Sofia-Bourgas sub-Balkan road at the village of Topolchane for a short time. They insist that the Sliven thermal power plant be included in the recovery and development plan because there is a danger that if this does not happen it will be closed down. And if it is closed down, 15,000 households, kindergartens, schools, hospitals and public buildings will be left without heating.

There is an agreement between the protesting energy workers and the government