“[The unions] managed to bring the country to a standstill for political reasons, and it is related to the timing, as we are in an election period,” stated Miguel Pinto Luz during a ceremony for the delivery of Energy Certificates at Medway – Freight Rail Operator, in Lisbon.
According to the government official, the CP strike, which the Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (FECTRANS) claims has a 100% adhesion rate, “only serves the interests of the unions” and not those of the company or its workers.
“But more importantly – and this is the message I want to leave here today – it does not serve the Portuguese people, hundreds of thousands of whom are adversely affected today,” added Pinto Luz.
In response, Fectrans demanded more action than words, asserting that “saying ‘it’s this or nothing’ is not a negotiating stance.” “Instead of making public speeches, the minister should show flexibility to discuss, not enter a meeting saying ‘it’s this or nothing’; this is not a negotiating stance,” remarked José Manuel Oliveira.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing emphasized that the government “does not succumb to pressure” and had attempted to negotiate with the unions, “pushing to the limits” of what is legally permissible for a caretaker government.
“The unions had a proposal two days ago; we were negotiating until 11 PM, with myself leading the negotiations, [but the unions] did not agree,” the minister stated, accusing the workers’ representatives of unfairly attempting to bring the country to a halt.
When questioned about possibly strengthening other means of transport, Pinto Luz mentioned that efforts are being made “to the fullest” to find alternative measures, but acknowledged “there are limits.”
On Tuesday, during a press conference, the minister had urged the CP unions to call off the strike, which he described as “devoid of objectives,” revealing that a salary increase proposal worth 5.75 million euros had been presented, to which no response was received.
The CP had already warned today of the potential for “significant disruptions in circulation” starting Wednesday and continuing until May 14, due to strikes called by various unions, compounded by the lack of minimum services defined by the Arbitration Tribunal of the Economic and Social Council.
“Regardless of the validity or fairness of the demands for raises, the caretaker government status prevents exceeding the 4.7% salary mass increase stipulated in the government dispatch and surpassing the amount set in CP’s Plan of Activities and Budget for 2025,” the minister explained on Tuesday.
Pinto Luz reminded that CP ensures the mobility of 700,000 Portuguese people daily who rely on its services.
“The Portuguese are tired of the strikes at CP; they simply want to go to work,” he added.
