The CGTP and UGT have announced a general strike set for December 11, in protest of the government’s proposed labor law reform. On Thursday, the UGT submitted its strike notice, expressing willingness to engage in dialogue, following CGTP’s earlier action.
“We have submitted a strike notice, as decided by the UGT authorities for December 11. Until that date, we are fully open to dialogue and negotiation. We are completely willing to sit down at the table,” stated UGT’s Secretary-General, Mário Mourão, speaking to journalists after submitting the general strike notice at the Ministry of Labor in Lisbon.
Mário Mourão did not dismiss the possibility of calling off the strike, considering the union has presented proposals to the government to withdraw the strike notice.
Current State: Who Supports the December 11 General Strike?
Participants at the 14th National Federation of Doctors (Fnam) Congress unanimously approved a motion to join the December 11 general strike against the government’s labor package.
- Nurses
Nurses will participate in the December 11 general strike, protesting against the proposed Collective Work Agreement and Labor Package, which they claim precarizes contracts and removes benefits, as announced by the Portuguese Nurses Union.
The Civil Aviation Pilots Union (SPAC) maintains some hope that the Minister of Labor will take a step back to take two forward, meaning initiating negotiations properly, rather than forcefully. If not, a pilots’ assembly will be convened to decide on participation in the strike.
The National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof) announced its participation in the December 11 general strike, opposing a threat of “civilizational regression” in the labor law reform.
- Journalists
The Journalists Union will join the general strike and calls for professional adherence, considering the labor law reform a “civilizational regression.”
- Construction, Ceramics, and Glass Federation of Unions
The Portuguese Federation of Construction, Ceramics, and Glass Unions (FEVICCOM) announced its participation in the December 11 general strike to reject the labor package and defend employment rights and collective bargaining.
- Commerce, Offices, and Services
The workers in Commerce, Offices, and Services plan to join the December 11 general strike in rejection of the labor package, as per a statement from the Union of Commerce, Offices, and Services Workers of Portugal (CESP).
The SBC – National Union of Banking, Insurance, and Technology Workers expressed full support for the general strike, reiterating public concerns about the government’s draft labor law.
- Municipality of Lisbon
The Municipality of Lisbon Workers Union (STML) announced its participation in the December 11 general strike, emphasizing that the government’s labor package represents a “severe setback in their rights.”
- Autoeuropa
The Autoeuropa Workers Commission announced it would join the December 11 general strike against the government’s proposed labor package, which it views as “an attack on workers’ rights.”
