There are prospects for compromise between the Bulgarian state and trade unions, stated front bench ruling GERB party MP Iskra Fidosova.

Tuesday afternoon the GERB political group in the Bulgarian Parliament held a 3-hour meeting with representatives of the two main trade unions in Bulgaria to negotiate that led the syndicates to break away from dialogue with the government.

Over the weekend both the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (KNSB) and the Podkrepa Labor Confederation announced that they are officially leaving Bulgaria's institution of social dialogue, involving representatives of the government, employers and trade unions.

They were protesting a number of measures intended by the cabinet of PM Boyko Borisov in connection with Bulgaria's state budget for 2012, which has already been approved at first reading in Parliament.

Among the cuts of social benefits is the bid to increase the retirement age next year, given that the cabinet agreed with unions not to increase it before 2021 - a move which especially irked unionists.

"Talks have been productive and tomorrow trade unionists are meeting PM Boyko Borisov," said MP Fidosova Tuesday.

Manwhile, representatives of syndicates have reconfirmed that employees of the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) will go on strike Thursday in protest of massive planned layoffs.

Upon exiting the social dialogue, trade unionists warned that a general strike in Bulgaria could also be possible given the situation.

Over the weekend, trade unionists stated that PM Borisov should assume full responsibility of intended reforms, and suggested that he remove vice-PM and Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov from his position, due to what they see as his socially insensitive attitude and non-predictable policy proposals.

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