“The UGT did not present red lines from the beginning. When we enter into negotiations and set red lines, we are restricting the negotiation,” stated Mário Mourão in response to journalists after submitting the strike notice for December 11.
However, the UGT mentioned its “main guidelines” and called for “calm.”
Mourão highlighted that all negotiating parties must understand that “there are very sensitive matters” in the proposal, which affect workers’ lives.
“These measures will not address the country’s problems,” such as housing, he pointed out.
The CGTP and UGT have decided to call a general strike for December 11 in response to the Government’s draft bill reforming labor legislation.
The president of the Confederation of Portuguese Farmers (CAP) expressed concerns on Monday about the atmosphere surrounding labor law reform and urged social partners to focus on the “green lines.”
“Striking is a legitimate right. My concern is with the atmosphere, and I would like to challenge us to discuss green lines instead of red lines,” Álvaro Mendonça e Moura, CAP president, told Lusa.
The confederation declared strong interest in reaching a consensus between social partners regarding the labor reform, although it noted that, “unfortunately, the CGTP will never sign” an agreement.
The former ambassador noted that among the 100 measures presented by the Government, not all can be negative.
He insisted that social partners should concentrate on the 60 or 70 measures where there is agreement.
