The Sindicato dos Maquinistas (SMAQ) has emphasized that the ongoing strike is not politically motivated but rather a labor action demanding a fair and negotiated agreement. In a statement, the SMAQ assured that it is not associated with any political party and that all its actions are solely focused on defending the interests of train conductors and other railway workers.
On the second day of the strike at CP – Comboios de Portugal, worker participation remained at 100%, halting all train operations, as confirmed by a union source. Infrastructure and Housing Minister Miguel Pinto Luz had earlier accused the unions of politically timing the strike due to the approaching snap legislative elections on May 18. Likewise, PSD President Luís Montenegro today cited “political, party, and electoral influences” as factors preventing the resolution of the strike, suggesting potential legal changes to balance the right to strike with other rights.
The SMAQ dismissed the government’s claims of electoral motivations as “absurd.” The union argued that the strike stems from the government’s and CP’s administration’s refusal to implement salary and professional clauses agreed upon with unions within the stipulated timeframes. The timing of the strike is, according to the SMAQ, directly related to the current breach of these agreements.
The union expressed deep regret for the disruption caused to the public but attributed full responsibility to the government for forcing workers into this strike by reneging on negotiated agreements. The SMAQ contends that the funds outlined in the agreement, which the government claims it cannot enact because it is in a caretaker role, are adequately budgeted. Hence, the union asserts the government’s rationale is unconvincing since it continues to issue resolutions and other measures without legal limitations.
The government proposed on Monday night to authorize CP to implement part of the agreement, amounting to 5.7 million euros. The SMAQ clarified that two million of this sum has been spent on government-imposed salary updates, which resulted in 34-euro raises, below the 56.50 euros minimum granted to most public administration employees. The union called this disparity “an unacceptable discrimination against CP workers” and criticized the government’s selective intervention capabilities even while in a caretaker role.
As for the remaining three million euros proposed after the strike had already begun, the SMAQ calculated that when divided among roughly 4,000 CP workers over 14 months, it amounts to only a 1.78-euro daily increase per worker, deeming the offer “obviously unacceptable.” The union demands the full implementation of the April 24 agreement between CP’s administration and the unions, arguing that “the government cannot take credit for the negotiation and then shirk its responsibilities in application.”
The strike, starting on Wednesday and extending to May 14, is a protest against salary increases that fail to restore purchasing power, for collective bargaining of worthy salary increases, and for enforcing the agreed restructuring of pay scales. The strike is expected to have significant impact on its first two days due to participation by 14 unions. A decision by the Arbitration Court means there are no minimum service requirements during the strike.
