A CGTP delivered a notice of a general strike scheduled for December 11 to the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security on the afternoon of Monday, November 17.
Minutes before CGTP submitted the strike notice at the Ministry of Labor in Lisbon, Tiago Oliveira clarified to journalists that the union does not commit to a two-day strike.
The CGTP’s general secretary stated that no new government proposal on labor legislation reform has been received and the union does not commit to extending the general strike planned for December 11 to two days.
“Our focus is on organizing a grand general strike for December 11,” said Tiago Oliveira, CGTP’s general secretary, in response to questions about potentially extending the strike duration, as suggested by the UGT’s general secretary.
Tiago Oliveira added that CGTP will “always” explore and assess new strategies to “defeat the labor package,” without committing to an extension of the general strike.
Nurses’ Union Joins General Strike
Nurses will join the general strike on December 11 in protest against the proposed Collective Work Agreement by the authorities and the Labor Package, which they claim destabilizes contracts and removes benefits, announced the Portuguese Nurses’ Union.
“On December 11, public sector nurses will protest against the Ministry of Health’s proposed Collective Work Agreement, which aims to cut costs at the expense of nurses,” declares the Portuguese Nurses’ Union (SEP) in a statement.
CGTP Dismisses Criticism from Minister of Labor
CGTP’s general secretary refuted the criticisms made by the Minister of Labor, noting that the union “attends all meetings it is invited to” and is ready to “discuss and evaluate everything the government puts on the table.”
When asked whether CGTP received the new proposal presented by the government to UGT, Tiago Oliveira stated that no such document was received.
“The only proposal on the table was the initial one presented by the government at the end of July,” Tiago Oliveira noted, lamenting the government’s disregard of the union’s proposals.
“We Will Not Accept Reversing One Point and Letting 98 Pass”
Regarding the concessions in the new proposal given to UGT – such as the reversal in the proposal to simplify dismissals, one of the ‘red lines’ for the unions, or adjustments to breastfeeding leave – CGTP’s general secretary issued a warning.
“We will not accept reversing one issue while allowing the rest of the 98 or 99 issues in this labor package, which contains over 100 issues, to remain, as all of them are deeply detrimental to workers,” he signaled.
Tiago Oliveira stressed that the government’s proposal is being negotiated in Social Dialogue (with bilateral and plenary meetings) as a collective entity.
“Workers would neither forgive nor understand a union that signs any document allowing reversal of a point or two, while the remaining 98 or 99 points entail a complete regression in their lives,” he reiterated.
CGTP therefore continues to urge the government to withdraw the labor legislation reform draft from discussion, believing that the general strike scheduled for December 11 will be a “significant moment of struggle” and a “declaration” by the workers.
CGTP and UGT have announced a general strike for December 11 against the government’s proposal, marking the first joint walkout since June 2013, during Portugal’s ‘troika’ intervention.
In an interview with Antena 1 and Jornal de Negócios, UGT’s general secretary explained that the union resorted to the strike due to government pressure and suggested considering “two days of strike” if the same proposal is advanced by the executive.
[Updated at 2:30 PM]
