Bulgarian Trade Unions Threaten Strike over Terminated License of Arms Factory Dunarit

Bulgarian trade unions have opposed a decision of the Interministerial Council on Defense Industry and Security of Supply at the Council of Ministers to terminate the license of Dunarit AD Ruse for the import, export, and transfer of arms.

Ruse-based Dunarit AD is a major manufacturer of military and machine- engineering products.

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Podkrepa Labor Confederation have risen against the step, insisting that it will leave 750 people unemployed, according to reports of Sega daily.

The two trade unions have outlined the situation at the arms factory in a letter to the President, the Prime Minister, and the Economy Minister.

Workers at Dunarit have said they are ready to launch a strike.

According to the letter of the two trade unions, the decision to terminate the license of the Ruse-based factory has been motivated with "violated economic stability and reliability".

They underscore that the conclusion would be ridiculous to anybody familiar with the economic situation at the company that makes an annual profit of over BGN 10 M.

Dunarit AD functions in line with NATO standards and exports output to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The two trade unions demand an urgent meeting with the co-chairs of the Interministerial Council on Defense Industry and Security of Supply at the Council of Ministers, Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski, and Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev.