“We are finalizing this process within the Government and will speak about it soon, but not today,” stated Miguel Pinto Luz in Peso da Régua, Vila Real district, following a ceremony marking the start of electrification works on the Marco de Canaveses-Régua section of the Douro Line.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing was prompted by journalists to comment on the position taken by CP workers’ unions and representative associations, who criticized the “unjustified delay” in implementing the agreement for restructuring the wage tables, demanding its immediate execution.
“The unions will not accept further delays. The commitment has been made and must be fulfilled to avoid further demotivation among workers and to maintain social peace,” declared the 15 signatories in a press release, emphasizing their incomprehension regarding the Government’s delay in authorizing CP’s Board of Directors to implement the agreement.
Pinto Luz was also questioned about TAP’s privatization, asserting transparency throughout the process, which is set for parliamentary review on Friday. He reminded that candidates have 60 days to submit proposals following the publication of the tender specifications.
“It [the tender specifications] has been approved but not yet published in the Diário da República. Once it’s published, the 60-day countdown begins, so candidates won’t submit applications before it’s published in the Diário da República,” he noted, adding that he is unaware of any new interested parties.
He emphasized that the Government has established an “unsurpassable line.”
“Once the process was opened and made public, we ceased direct contact with potential interested parties,” he highlighted.
PLI (JO) // MSF
Lusa/End
