Train services in Portugal are experiencing significant disruptions today, which are expected to persist until May 14, due to ongoing strikes by CP (Comboios de Portugal) workers. These strikes have been organized by several unions.
The Arbitration Court of the Economic and Social Council did not mandate minimum services for this strike, a decision that the company has appealed to the Lisbon Court of Appeal, arguing that the strike affects access to work, health, and education.
CP has stated that it has made every effort, in conjunction with the government, by presenting the unions with a proposal to restructure pay scales, valued at 5.75 million euros, and has expressed willingness to continue the process once conditions allow.
The Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (Fectrans) today demanded more action from the Government rather than mere rhetoric to resolve the strike at CP, stating that “saying ‘this is it or nothing’ is not a negotiating position.”
“From the minister, more action than speech is required,” stated José Manuel Oliveira, coordinator of Fectrans, in statements to Lusa.
Miguel Pinto Luz, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, today accused the unions representing CP workers of halting the country with a politically motivated strike during election time, emphasizing that the Government “does not succumb to pressure” and has attempted to negotiate with the unions, “pushing to the limits” of what is legally permissible for a transitional government.
The strike, continuing until May 14, was organized in protest against imposed salary increases “that do not restore purchasing power,” seeking “collective negotiation of fair salary increases” and the “implementation of the pay scale restructuring agreement, as negotiated and agreed,” according to the unions.
The strike is expected to have a particularly significant impact today and on Thursday, due to the larger number of unions (14) participating in the strike on these days.
