Strike paralyzes public transportation in Tirana

A strike staged by bus drivers and conductors paralysed the public transport system in the Albanian capital Friday, the ATA news agency reported. The 24-hour strike announced by the Federation of Independent Public Transport Unions came after the employees had not been paid for three months. The transport companies demanded a ticket price rise from 30 to 70 leks (0.29 to 0.68 U.S. dollar) on the grounds that they cannot pay the bus drivers and conductors. Albanian PM Edi Rama said the government will delegate the authority to set the ticket price to Tirana municipality. "It is unfair that the municipality handles the entire process of decision-making on the nature of this municipal service, whereas the government sets the ticket price," he said.