The representatives of the Union of Commerce, Offices, and Services Workers of Portugal (CESP) and the Union of Portuguese Charities (UMP) convened today for negotiations on wage increases and salary scales at the Directorate-General for Employment and Labor Relations (DGERT).
Célia Lopes, a union leader from CESP, stated that the union was presented with “a salary update proposal that the Union [of Charities] applied through management action.”
“We are faced with a closed salary table because it is agreed with other union structures, meaning it seems the successive postponement of meetings with us was aimed at agreeing first with others to present us with a final result,” she criticized.
Lopes highlighted that the UMP’s proposal suggests “for support workers, those earning the lowest salaries in the institutions, only the recovery of the 50 euros increase in the national minimum wage, without any career valuation.”
“There are workers who, according to the proposed table already implemented, after five years receive a promotion and a four-euro increase, which makes no sense,” she criticized.
She added that the union will now organize plenary sessions to hear from workers whether they accept the UMP’s proposal, and a new meeting is set for October 1.
Célia Lopes stated that CESP and UMP maintain “differences, particularly regarding career progression and length-of-service increments,” as well as the payment for work and holidays.
According to Lopes, the UMP expressed willingness to review these issues “if there is progress by the Government concerning funding” and if CESP accepts the proposed salary table.
On the other hand, she was surprised by UMP’s intent to reintroduce work weeks ranging from 37 to 40 hours, calling it a “step backward” and arguing that “all workers should move to 35-hour weeks.”
Regarding future actions, Célia Lopes mentioned that the union will participate in the September 20 demonstration, organized by the CGTP, against the proposed changes to the Labor Law, and that CESP will issue a strike notice for charity workers as well.
