BKV unions call off Thursday strike

Public transport company BKV workers will not go on strike for half a day today as they had originally planned after the trade union’s demand for extra funding from the government was met. The announcement to call off the strike was made by the representatives of BKV and trade unions Wednesday afternoon.

Budapest mayor Gábor Demszky announced that the public transport company will receive the extra backing. The cabinet will return Ft 10 billion to City Hall from the personal income tax paid by Budapest residents. The state will also contribute Ft 30 billion to a planned company that will take care of suburban public transport, although talks are ongoing on this matter.

Finance Minister János Veres announced at a press briefing after the cabinet meeting Wednesday afternoon that the Ft 10 billion to BKV will be paid as a supplementary subsidy from the reserves of this year’s budget. Earlier Demszky had said BKV will receive Ft 40 billion from the state.

Strike committee spokesman Gábor Nemes told Népszabadság on Wednesday that their main demand had been met, as the government decision provides an opportunity to put the technical state of buses in order.

President László Sólyom said in an interview with the conservative weekly Heti Válasz, out today, that the right to all constitutional means of wage struggle should be ensured, even in the present economic situation, but added that he would not encourage anyone to strike, as grave austerity measures must be endured "for the sake of the future."

BKV CEO István Kocsis announced that company officials and union representatives have signed the agreement and thus BKV bus drivers will not go on strike today.

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