The workers’ assembly has mandated the union to call a 48-hour strike on September 17 and 18 if a specific condition is not met: ending salary discrimination at Horários do Funchal, stated union leader Manuel Oliveira.
The SNMOT held two workers’ assemblies today, one with drivers from the private company Siga Rodoeste and another with employees of the public company Horários do Funchal.
For Siga Rodoeste, which employs about 80 drivers, the decision was to schedule a meeting in September with the Funchal Commercial and Industrial Association/Madeira Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACIF/CCIM), which represents industry stakeholders, to continue negotiations.
Regarding Horários do Funchal, with 350 drivers, the assembly has instructed the union to proceed with another strike in September, following two previous actions on June 25-26 and July 20.
The SNMOT is demanding a “correction of salary updates” by at least 30.65 euros per month and reopening negotiations for a reduced workweek of 35 hours, along with eliminating salary discrimination.
“This is the ‘sine qua non’ condition; additionally, obviously, we require negotiations to address issues on the table, namely reducing the weekly hours from 39 to 35, to be implemented gradually,” explained Manuel Oliveira.
The salary discrimination, according to the union leader, stems from an agreement between Horários do Funchal management and another sector union, the Madeira Road Transport and Metallurgical Activities Union (STRAMM), which included a 20-euro base salary increase, retroactive to January 1, 2025, covering both affiliated and non-affiliated workers.
However, members of the National Union of Drivers and Other Workers were not included in this increase, creating tension in negotiations among the parties, which include the union, the company management, and the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP), overseeing Horários do Funchal.
