Carris workers have joined the partial strike, called this week to demand pay rises and a 35-hour working week, at around 90 percent, a union source told Lusa.
Carris workers began a partial strike on Monday, which ends today.
“Our assessment is extremely positive, with membership of more than 90%,” Manuel Leal, from the Union of Road and Urban Transport Workers of Portugal (STRUP), told Lusa, noting that there were “some situations of shift stoppages, in the order of 100%”.
The strike initially involved drivers and brakemen, who were joined by workshop workers from Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa, the capital’s public transport operator.
The Lusa agency asked Carris for an assessment of the strike, but has so far received no reply.
STRUP hopes that the “adherence will be read by the [Carris] board of directors as a way of giving positive answers to the demands that have been put on the table”.
The union is demanding a “real increase in salaries”, asking for an extra 40 euros per month on the scale, after the company made an update of 60 euros – in order to match the initial demand of 100 euros.
At the same time, the workers are demanding a 35-hour working week, including commuting time, and the updating of meal allowances to “acceptable amounts that can cover the costs”.
Another of STRUP’s demands is “the definitive integration” of workers from Carrisbus, which maintains and repairs buses and streetcars, and Carristur, which provides tourism and training services, both of which are 100% owned by Carris.
STRUP hopes that the meeting scheduled with the Carris board of directors for the 23rd, at 3pm, will “meet these demands” and that the company will “show willingness to continue the negotiation process”.
If this doesn’t happen, the STRUP – mandated to do so at the last workers’ plenary session – will issue a 24-hour strike notice for September 18.
This notice – said Manuel Leal – covers all sectors of the company.
On the 12th, Carris workers staged a 24-hour strike which, according to the union, was attended by more than 90% of the workforce.
