The Regional Government of the Azores has appealed to the administration of Luís Montenegro for intervention regarding delayed salaries for workers at Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island, following the U.S. government shutdown.
The Vice-President of the Azorean government, Artur Lima, expressed to RTP-Açores that “for the first time,” Portuguese civilians serving American forces at Lajes are affected by such shutdowns. He revealed that assistance has been requested from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, to resolve the issue promptly.
“The information I have is that it is due to the budgetary ‘shutdown’ and, for some reason, it has also affected Portuguese workers at Lajes. However, it wasn’t only at Lajes; it affected bases worldwide. But we need to address our ‘little issue,’ what affects us, and perhaps how we can improve,” stated Artur Lima, explaining that “the Azorean government insisted that the Portuguese government emphasize the importance of this issue for a small council like Praia da Vitória.”
“Unprecedented and unacceptable situation”
The Government of the Azores had already expressed “deep concern” over the delayed payments to Portuguese workers at Lajes Base, calling the situation “unprecedented and unacceptable,” and urged the Republic to intercede with the United States.
“In the letter sent, the vice-president of the [Regional] Government warns that the workers have not yet received their salaries for the first days of the current month nor the expected salary adjustments,” reads the press release.
According to Artur Lima, this situation “violates basic principles of labor justice” and “undermines the dignity of the workers” covered by the Cooperation and Defense Agreement between Portugal and the United States of America.
“Portuguese state must intervene with the USA”
“The Portuguese state must intervene with U.S. authorities, through diplomatic means, to ensure that workers are properly compensated and that pending salary updates are applied urgently,” argues the Azorean executive.
The Government of the Azores expressed “deep concern” today due to the delayed payments to Portuguese workers at Lajes Base, calling the situation “unprecedented and unacceptable,” and urged the Republic to intercede with the United States.
For Artur Lima, the situation is of “deep concern” as “it directly affects Azorean families and compromises the social and economic stability of Terceira Island.”
“In the same document, Artur Lima requests that the Government of the Republic activate all available diplomatic channels to ensure compliance with contractual and salary obligations regarding the Portuguese civilian workers at Lajes Base.”
The Regional Government calls on Paulo Rangel to seek “formal clarifications on why the Labor Commission and the Permanent Bilateral Commission have not convened as expected.”
PS doubts the letter was sent to the MNE
Meanwhile, the Azorean parliament passed a resolution calling for the immediate regularization of delayed salaries.
“The absence of payment for workdays to the workers at Lajes Base, by the United States of America, is deplorable and violates their rights and lacks any legal basis,” states the resolution, presented by Bloco de Esquerda deputy, António Lima.
The BE parliamentarian noted that these Portuguese employees are under a “furlough,” a rule provided by U.S. legislation, which allows for a suspension of payment due to lack of budget approval, but does not have “any legal framework in Portugal.”
“It is, therefore, urgent that the Regional Government and the Government of the Republic assertively and imperatively demand payment to the Portuguese workers at Lajes Base and ensure their rights are always guaranteed, using the legal mechanisms provided under the bilateral agreement between Portugal and the USA,” he insisted.
Andreia Cardoso, PS leader in the Regional Assembly, doubts the existence of any letter sent by the Government to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, especially after it was disclosed on the executive’s website just minutes before BE’s resolution was discussed in parliament: “Where is the letter!? Show the letter!?”
“On my honor, the letter was sent!” assured the Regional Secretary of Parliamentary Affairs, Paulo Estêvão, claiming he could not prove at that moment that the missive had been sent, but assuring that he could do so later if that was the understanding of the Azorean parliament.
“When was the letter sent? At what time?” insisted António Lima (BE), joined by Pedro Neves of PAN, who added irony to his request: “Please provide us with the letter, nicely and with a packet of sugar.”
João Bruto da Costa, parliamentary leader of PSD, said he did not understand the opposition’s demands, which intend that the Azores Legislative Assembly approve a resolution “recommending the Government do what it has already done.”
The resolution was approved by majority, with votes in favor from BE, PS, PAN, IL, and CH, despite the votes against from the three parties that form the Government (PSD, CDS, and PPM).
USA in ‘shutdown’
Throughout the period of the budgetary shutdown, known as the ‘shutdown,’ more than 2.3 million federal employees do not receive salaries—even those who must continue to work—as do more than 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.
