The position was conveyed by the General Secretary of the union confederation, Tiago Oliveira, during a press conference following the National Council Executive Committee meeting in Lisbon, where a review of the current political and union climate and government labor policies was conducted.
“The government is orchestrating a targeted assault […], it is not just one or two harmful measures. It is a plan to reduce purchasing power of salaries, destabilize job security, deregulate working hours, and further degrade working and living conditions in our country,” stated the leader.
The CGTP particularly criticizes the government of Luís Montenegro’s intention to “revisit labor legislation,” specifically the strike law, to establish what it calls “proportional minimum services.”
“Using the outdated, overused, and false argument of ‘rigidity in labor legislation,’ the government is launching an assault on labor rights with a new offensive against workers’ rights,” said Tiago Oliveira.
According to the union confederation, this is a political movement with clear objectives: “What the government wants is for strikes not to have the necessary and sufficient impact and scope to defeat the ongoing policies. This, under no circumstances, will we allow,” he assured.
When asked whether the CGTP is considering calling a general strike, Tiago Oliveira responded directly: “The CGTP has not ruled out from the outset any form of intervention and struggle that safeguards workers’ interests. We will not allow the government to restrict the right to strike at any moment,” he warned.
The CGTP also rejects the idea of negotiating “red lines” with the government, as they have subsequently been used to justify concessions.
“What we have seen, unfortunately, is that red lines then shift to other thresholds, appearing to be abandoned. What we are saying is simple: any rollback of workers’ rights will encounter firm resistance from us,” he emphasized.
The union confederation will now embark on a process of mobilization and debate within union structures and workplaces. “We will initiate a broad discussion within the unions among workers to prepare the necessary response,” explained the general secretary.
“We are facing an offensive that affects all workers, whether in the private or public sector, regardless of their nationality, demanding strong unity of response,” he reiterated.
Tiago Oliveira further pointed out that, aside from the legislative offensive, the government continues to fail in addressing families’ concrete difficulties. “We live in a country where wages are low, precariousness is spreading, and the cost of living rises every month. Pensions are being reduced. And what is proposed is to deregulate more, withdraw rights, and impose more sacrifices,” he criticized.
The CGTP leader also recalled the fight for closing trade on Sundays and holidays, highlighting it as an example of demands ignored by right-wing parties.
Emphasizing that the right to rest and family time is also a labor right, Tiago Oliveira argued for the need to denounce positions that normalize 24/7 trade operations, referring to statements by representatives of Chega.
“There is an ongoing attack on labor rights. And we assert with absolute clarity that we will not allow the government to push its policies forward,” he concluded.
[News updated at 19:14]
