Bus Drivers Take to the Streets
The Transport and Road Workers Trade Union organized protests in Narva, Viljandi and Pärnu on Tuesday demanding a salary hike for employees of the intercity bus company ATKO.
Beyond low salaries, bus drivers point to a number of other problems, including short work days of 6-7 hours, meaning employees have to make up the difference of a 40-hour work week on days off.
Other highlighted problems include using authorization agreements instead of employment contracts, which protect employees more, and companies bidding lower than the asking price at procurements which drive down employee salaries, the union said.
Drivers from Tarbus and GoBus protested on April 3rd, demanding a minimum monthly gross salary of 900 euros, which is 200 more than they currently receive.
Jaan-Hendrik Toomel, the Head of the union, said they have successfully negotiated collective agreements with three out of five major bus companies, with only ATKO and GoBus still to go.
A protest is planned for Tallinn on Thursday.