“This should be the subject of dialogue that can lead to consensus and solutions, particularly those integrating justice, dignity, and feasibility of the process,” stated José Ornelas, the bishop of the Diocese of Leiria-Fátima, in Fátima.
The CGTP and UGT have called for a general strike on December 11 in response to the draft labor law reform presented by the Government. This will be the first strike uniting the two largest labor unions since June 2013, during Portugal’s bailout by the ‘troika’.
The prelate acknowledged that the pursuit of “paths of justice, of equity” is challenging.
“The Catholic Church has always stated that it is part of this society, and therefore, such problems affect us (…). It is evident that the not-so-easy search for paths of justice, of equity, but at the same time related to all the economic situation we live in the country and beyond, are paths we hope for,” he declared.
The president of the CEP also noted that processes of dialogue have been opened, hoping they “can lead to resolving issues, regardless of the party in government today or tomorrow.”
When asked whether the Government is attempting to eliminate labor rights already achieved, the bishop declined to confirm if this is happening but emphasized that “it must not happen.”
“It is necessary to find paths of understanding, also criteria, so that we can indeed create a just society,” he stated, recalling “problems citizens face, such as housing or the inability to live on their salary.”
Referring to the need for “necessary transformations,” the president of the CEP added that the type of transformations “must be subject to discussion and the search for understandings that go beyond the immediacy of things, to find viable paths.”
