Questioned in the morning about the protest organized by the Union of Local Administration Workers (STAL), the official declined to comment.
“I will not comment because I am not aware of it, and therefore, I cannot talk about what I do not know. I do not know about it,” he stated on the sidelines of the inauguration of Mercadona’s new logistics block in Almeirim, Santarém district.
“There are regular meetings held by the Secretary of State for Local Administration and Spatial Planning, but I am not aware of the specific issue you are raising, so I prefer not to speak about it,” he added.
Hundreds of local government and municipal company workers demanded an increase in the minimum wage to one thousand euros today in a march that concluded near the parliament and was supported by left-wing parties.
During the march, which started mid-morning at Largo Camões in Lisbon, workers from all mainland districts and the islands chanted slogans, catching the surprise of some tourists and support from passersby as they took advantage of pauses in the march to stand in the limited shade along the route.
“The cost of living rises, people cannot cope,” “a wage increase is urgent and necessary” and “we cannot accept becoming poor while working,” “the risk is daily, the bonus is necessary” and “a different policy is needed, it is urgent” were some of the slogans repeated during the procession.
In addition to operational assistants from municipal councils and parish councils, the protest included workers from local business sector companies, such as employees of EGEAC – the cultural management company of the Lisbon City Council, who “demand salary increases.”
Representatives of other professions related to the local sector, such as firefighters, water and urban transport workers, including a delegation of urban transport drivers from Coimbra “struggling for their careers,” and workers from Águas de Portugal “fighting for professional valorization” were also present.
According to STAL, the workers demand an increase in all salaries, that is, for operational assistants, technical assistants, and senior technicians.
STAL supported the demand proposal of the Common Front and other Public Administration unions, proposing an interim review of the minimum wage to reach 1,000 euros this year, with a minimum increase of 150 euros for all workers.
The workers also demand an increase in meal allowances, the general valorization of careers, and the reinstatement of local administration careers.
