The Azorean executive (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) announced that the vice-president of the Regional Government has written a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, concerning the “current labor situation affecting Portuguese civilian workers serving the U.S. forces at Lajes Base” on Terceira Island.
“In the letter sent, the vice-president of the [Regional] Government points out that the workers have not yet received their pay for the first days of this month, nor the salary adjustments they are entitled to,” the press release states.
According to the Azores Government’s number two, Artur Lima, this is an “unprecedented and unacceptable situation” that “violates fundamental labor justice principles” and “undermines the dignity of the workers” covered by the Cooperation and Defense Agreement between Portugal and the United States of America.
“The Portuguese state must intercede with U.S. authorities, through diplomatic means, to ensure that workers are properly paid and that pending salary adjustments are applied with urgency,” the Azorean executive advocates.
Artur Lima expresses “deep concern” over the situation, noting it “directly affects Azorean families and undermines the social and economic stability of Terceira Island.”
The Regional Government acknowledges that the U.S. administration’s budgetary paralysis might have “temporary impacts,” but warns that “in similar past situations, there has never been any interruption in payments.”
“In the same document, Artur Lima requests that the Republic’s Government activate all available diplomatic channels to ensure compliance with contractual and salary obligations concerning the Portuguese civilian workers at Lajes Base.”
The Regional Government urges Rangel to seek “formal clarifications on why the Labor Commission and the Permanent Bilateral Commission have not met as scheduled.”
Throughout the period of budgetary paralysis, known as the “shutdown,” more than 2.3 million federal employees do not receive salaries – even those required to continue working – as well as over 1.3 million military personnel.
Portugal and the United States have a Bilateral Defense and Cooperation Agreement that allows the Americans to use military facilities at Lajes Base, where a Portuguese civilian workforce is employed.
