The KNSB trade union says pay in the public sector and beyond must rise by at least 10%. Its president, Plamen Dimitrov, made the demand to the union's regional council in Stara Zagora region. By the union's count, inflation is already close to 9%.
The union accepts some of the revenue measures the finance ministry put in the draft 2027 budget. The dispute is over pay rises.
"On every measure we track, prices are heading for double-digit inflation and a double-digit fall in buying power," Dimitrov told Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). He expects inflation to reach 10% or more by the end of the year. He says pay must keep pace with it so people do not keep getting poorer.
The union has tracked the prices of about 200 goods and services for 16 months, including A95 petrol. Its regional experts record the prices at 600 shops and other outlets in 81 municipalities.
The budget plan sent to Brussels on 15 October expects about €2bn in extra revenue, mainly from banks, insurers, quick-loan firms, mobile operators and currency exchange offices. About €800m of that would come from a one-off tax on windfall profits.
Dimitrov says a 2022 EU regulation lets member states tax windfall profits once. Under the regulation, normal profit is 20%, and the plan sets a 33% tax on anything above that.
KNSB backs this tax and the other tax changes, but not the 7% tax on food vouchers. It also approves higher minimum insurable income, tied to the rise in the minimum wage. It says the state can raise more by taxing gambling.
"With a budget that spends about €60bn, it is hard for us to accept that €250m cannot be found," Dimitrov told BNR. By KNSB's calculations, that is what the pay rise it wants would cost. Dimitrov called the rise fully achievable and financially justified.
KNSB, the Podkrepa labour confederation, the BSK, AIKB and KRIB sent a joint letter to the government over high electricity prices. The five organisations want the state to change how it supports non-household users, so that compensation reaches business on time.
Dimitrov says high electricity prices benefit part of the energy sector but hurt industry, business and non-household users. He says the pressure of the free market is also felt in culture, education, community cultural centres and other organisations that do not produce power.
On EU energy policy, KNSB wants Bulgaria to press for a major change to the EU emissions trading scheme, including how the price of allowances is set. It calls for special mechanisms and exemptions for coal-fired plants. It also wants Bulgaria's right to use its own energy resources protected. And it calls for diplomatic talks with other member states to agree a joint position on defending energy security. Dimitrov said Bulgaria must defend its national energy capacity in EU policy, and KNSB has long wanted an active Bulgarian stance on carbon mechanisms.
The unions are in tough talks on pay in state-owned companies, including in energy and transport.
The organisations want an urgent meeting with the prime minister this week. Dimitrov says he reacted positively at first. A meeting with business representatives and both unions, KNSB and Podkrepa, is expected by the end of the week.