Tiago Oliveira participated today in the assembly of Nobre Alimentação workers in Rio Maior, Santarém district, to underline the “appreciation” of their ongoing struggle since 2023, marked by 22 strikes due to the management’s refusal to discuss the list of demands.
Before the strike picket, which gathered about three dozen employees, the secretary-general of CGTP highlighted “the symbol” these workers represent for many others as an embodiment of firmness, combativeness, struggle, and class consciousness in a country where “the balance is completely skewed.”
“There are those who continue to have much at the expense of exploiting workers, and those who work every day, without whom nothing would progress, who continue to be victims of enormous exploitation,” stated Tiago Oliveira, noting that in the country, “two million and 500 thousand workers, out of a total of five million, take home less than 1,000 euros per month.”
He further noted that the same country has “a million retirees taking home less than 510 euros per month,” adding that this occurs because “throughout their lives, their wages were miserable.”
Hence, he reiterated the need for workers to fight for their rights, urging the Nobre employees to continue their struggle.
The strike, organized by the National Union of Workers in Agriculture and Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Industries (SINTAB), saw participation rates exceeding “80%,” union delegate Inês Santos told Lusa agency.
These stoppages, occurring almost monthly since 2023, are rooted in the company’s refusal to negotiate the list of demands.
For 2025, the workers demand a salary increase of 150 euros, ensuring no one earns below 1,000 euros, an increase in the meal allowance to 8.5 euros per day, 25 days of vacation, and a day off on their birthday.
In a motion approved today, they also demand the implementation of the sector’s collective agreement and the negotiation of a company agreement.
Workers and unions are awaiting the scheduling of a negotiation meeting requested to the Directorate-General for Employment and Labor Relations (DGERT) “to try to negotiate and reach an agreement” with the company, Inês Santos said.
To Lusa, Nobre Alimentação confirmed “a stoppage by the factory workers is impacting the factory’s daily activities.”
In an emailed response, Nobre Alimentação reiterated “the commitment to continue this regular dialogue, seeking together the most balanced path for the future.”
The workers have scheduled another strike for August 14.
