Budapest transport strike called off at eleventh hour

Budapest transport company BKV's in-house unions and management reached an agreement on Tuesday afternoon, averting a two-day strike planned on Thursday and Friday. BKV management accepted union demands to extend by one year the collective bargain contract, which was due to expire at the end of 2008.

Strike committee spokesman Gábor Nemes later told Magyar Hírlap that the deal contains short-, medium- and long-term funding plans for the company, which will have to be formulated in conjunction with the unions before September 30.

Before then BKV may not close down any registered offices, nor bus or tram depots. In addition BKV is not permitted to award personnel transport commissions to new sub-contractors, nor outsource the suburban railway line HÉV, until after talks with the unions in October.

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