“The issue at hand is the non-compliance with an agreement between CP and the unions, which the Government has decided not to proceed with. This agreement, in addition to valuing salaries, careers, and professions, aims to promote the retention and recruitment of workers in the company, thereby ensuring the appropriate number of workers for the normal functioning of the rail service, a structural problem that has existed for several years and urgently needs resolution,” argues GGTP in a statement.
Train circulation is expected to face disruptions starting today and continuing until May 14 due to strikes by CP — Comboios de Portugal workers, which have been called by various unions.
The strikes will not have minimum services, according to the decision by the Arbitration Court, similar to the strike on April 28, which the union reported had total adherence.
The CGTP reiterates that “the group of unions that filed the pre-strike notice has always remained open to resolving the conflict, a position the Government has not taken.” They added that the fact that the Government is managing affairs does not prevent it “from conducting various inaugurations or announcing several investments.”
“It is clear that the Government wants to use the situation it has created to attack workers’ rights, namely the right to strike,” claims the union federation, urging a swift resolution to the situation.
The Government appealed on Tuesday for CP’s unions to call off the strike, which it considers “devoid of objectives,” revealing that it had presented a proposal for salary increases amounting to 5.75 million euros, which received no response.
“There was total good faith from the Government, but so far, there has been no openness on the part of the unions,” lamented the Minister of Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz, speaking at a press conference in Lisbon.
