“If the Republic’s Government does not fulfill its obligation, the Regional Government will move forward with a solution so that workers are not left without pay until the shutdown of the U.S. administration is over,” stated Artur Lima.
Salaries at the Lajes Base on Terceira Island are paid biweekly. The pay period ending October 17 was issued with cuts, and the period ending October 27 was not paid.
This situation involves the introduction of a temporary and unpaid suspension applicable to U.S. federal employees due to the partial shutdown of the U.S. government, as the federal budget has not been approved.
The SITACEHTT Union of the Azores and the Workers’ Representative Commission at the Lajes Base repeated their appeal for the Portuguese State to follow the example of the German and Spanish governments by advancing the salaries of workers until payments are made by the United States.
The leader of the PS/Azores also advocated for this in the Assembly of the Republic.
The vice-president of the Regional Government (PSD/CDS/PPM) mentioned that the Republic’s Government (PSD/CDS) “is committed to finding a solution to resolve this issue.”
“We are on the right path to ensure that workers at the Lajes Base are paid, primarily by the Portuguese State, as it is their obligation if the U.S. State fails,” he added.
Artur Lima, responsible for overseeing the Cooperation and Defense Agreement between Portugal and the United States, stated, “It will likely be possible” for the Republic’s Government “to pay these wages to the workers at the Lajes Base,” but negotiations are necessary for the Portuguese State to be reimbursed by the U.S. State.
“The Portuguese State has the obligation to pay these wages and then be reimbursed by the U.S. State,” he emphasized.
However, the Regional Government is working on a “plan B” in case the national executive does not advance the salaries.
“Yesterday [Monday], the president of the Government instructed me to work with the regional secretary of Finance on a plan B, so that, in the event of any setback—which I am convinced will not occur—the Regional Government can guarantee the payment of salaries to the workers at the Lajes Base,” Lima revealed.
The vice-president of the Azorean executive assured that “there is behind-the-scenes work by the Azorean Government with the Republic’s Government to resolve this,” but noted that “these things take time.”
“I believe that by the end of the week, early next week, we will have a more consistent solution on this matter,” he suggested.
Artur Lima highlighted that the Azorean executive “has been following this issue from the very beginning.”
“Meetings are neither public nor announced, but I have met with the workers’ commission, which is who I find credible to meet with,” he noted, adding that, besides sending a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he also contacted the Director-General of Foreign Policy and the Minister of Defense.
According to the official, other solutions were considered, such as providing social support through the Social Security Institute, but “these processes are much lengthier.”
“Workers will not be left without their salaries if the shutdown continues and it is uncertain how long it will last,” he assured.
