“Despite the occurrence of the general strike that interrupted the ongoing negotiation process, the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security has today, one day after the general strike, summoned the UGT for a meeting next Tuesday at 5 pm to continue negotiations,” stated the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, as noted in the ministry’s statement to Lusa.
The summoning comes a day after the general strike called by CGTP and UGT against the changes to labor laws proposed by the Government that are currently under discussion in Social Concertation.
The CGTP secretary-general stated on Thursday that the stoppage was “one of the largest general strikes ever, if not the largest general strike ever,” with “more than three million workers” participating.
“We are witnessing an impressive response from the workforce. There is no room for any other conclusion,” added Tiago Oliveira, as cited in a statement, reiterating the call for the Government to withdraw the labor package from discussions.
On the Government’s side, Minister of the Presidency Leitão Amaro stated late Thursday morning that “the overwhelming majority of the country is working,” arguing that financial transactions through SIBS were “down by 7% compared to normal periods” and that “traffic on the bridges from the south to Lisbon” was falling by 5%.
Highlighting that the Government respects the right to strike, António Leitão Amaro also stated that the level of participation “is insignificant, particularly in the private and social sectors.”
“This seems more like a public sector strike,” said the official, acknowledging the impacts on transportation and “school assistants.”
To Lusa, the Ministry of Labor confirmed that a plenary meeting with all social partners is scheduled in the context of Social Concertation for January 14, as reported by Expresso, just days before the presidential elections.
[News updated at 12:59]
