The CGTP and UGT have decided to call a general strike for December 11 in response to the draft labor law reform presented by the PSD/CDS-PP Government.
“It is evident that it will have a large indirect impact. From transport to schools, to facilities that are closed, in short, whatever we can imagine in terms of public and private services tied to collective bargaining coming to a halt,” said the executive vice president of the Portuguese Hotel Association (AHP), Cristina Siza Vieira, to Lusa.
The urban public transport sector is expected to be one of the most affected by Thursday’s general strike, though users can expect minimum services in trains, buses, boats, the Mondego Metro, and the Porto Metro.
This marks the first convergence of the two central unions since 2013, during the intervention of the ‘troika.’
Regarding the involvement of hospitality workers, the impact “is smaller than from an indirect point of view,” similar to other strikes “periodically called by the CGTP,” noting that the degree of unionization is “very, very low” in the hospitality sector.
The general secretary of the Association of Hospitality, Restaurants, and Similar of Portugal (AHRESP) shares a similar view regarding indirect effects, as unionization “does not have much expression,” except in “the case of canteen catering, where there is greater affiliation,” according to Ana Jacinto, speaking to Lusa.
“In terms of catering and hospitality, our workers are working. The issue is accessing their places of work, where there may be difficulties, but we do not expect a large turnout from traditional catering and hospitality workers. There may be a point or two of concern, particularly regarding collective catering operating within public sector schools, primarily canteens. These are exactly what is critical, where minimum services need to be ensured,” said Ana Jacinto.
Previously, the president of the Portuguese Tourism Confederation (CTP) also expressed to Lusa expectations of low direct participation but high indirect impacts.
“In regards to our businesses, from what we have seen with the associations, it does not seem there will be a strong adherence to the strike. However, there are indirect effects, largely caused by transport,” stated Francisco Calheiros.
AHRESP, alongside CTP, views the call for a general strike—acknowledged as a constitutional right to be used sparingly—as inappropriate and premature at this time.
“It seems slightly inappropriate, premature, and even disproportionate (…). It seems they do not consider the effects it has on the country, because all we want is for the country to be increasingly robust and to grow,” said the AHRESP official.
Francisco Calheiros used similar adjectives, believing there has not been sufficient debate in social dialogue because dialogue avenues between the government and unions have not been exhausted.
Both officials warn of the negative impact on the image and functioning of the tourism sector at a time when, they argue, the country requires stability and growth.
The proposed changes—named “Labor XXI” and presented by the Government as a “profound” revision of labor legislation—cover dismissals, parenthood, contract term extensions, among other areas, noting changes in “over one hundred” articles of the Labor Code.
