Public transport workers in Tirana have responded to threats from Mayor Erion Veliaj to revoke their licenses.
The workers have been protesting for over two weeks over security protocol imposed on them by the Ministry of Health. They said that enacting such protocols will cause them to go bankrupt and they have asked for assistance from the state.
Veliaj responded by saying if they did not start work by the end of the week, he would revoke their license. He compared the situation to that of the National Theatre and Astir, noting that these were examples of him following through on his word.
Yesterday, workers told the media that they would not back down.
“The Union of Public Transport Associations in Tirana refuses to go back to work without changes to the protocol being made…With regard to the revocation of licenses, we believe that they won’t be taken away as we are regular taxpayers and are not insignificant in terms of economic structures and civic services.”
Previously, the workers made demands that the implementation of protocols including limited capacity and the provision of safety materials, be subsidized by the State.
