The General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – National Trade Union (CGTP-IN) argued today that the privatization of TAP is an economic crime, an affront to workers and an attack on national sovereignty.
“The importance of TAP makes its hypothetical privatization an economic crime,” defended the CGTP-IN, in a statement sent to the press, in which it highlighted the airline’s contribution to the economy and its role in connectivity with the Portuguese and Portuguese-speaking communities.
For the trade union center, “the decision by the Council of Ministers to launch yet another attempt to privatize TAP is an affront to the company’s workers and also to the country’s development,” and, if it goes ahead, it will represent “an economic and social loss and yet another attack on national sovereignty.”
On Thursday, the Council of Ministers approved the conditions for the privatization of TAP, which returned to state control during the pandemic, and the government expects the process to be completed in the first half of next year.
The three largest European aviation groups – Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and IAG – have already admitted to bidding for the privatization of the Portuguese airline.
For the CGTP, which believes that it is “possible and necessary to save TAP”, the sale of the airline represents “yet another free ride for the European Union and big business which, after dominating and instrumentalizing strategic companies and sectors, now sees the opportunity to get its hands on the national airline”.
“Organized, convinced that reason is on the side of a public TAP, aware of the examples of other privatizations that led to the dismantling of companies and economic sectors or put them at the service of profits and dividends, we reaffirm the workers’ commitment to defending the future of Portugal, in defence of a public TAP and at the service of the country’s sovereign development,” concluded the CGTP-IN.
