A planned two-day strike by the National Union of Agriculture, Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Workers (SINTAB) commenced with significant participation, noted union leader Diogo Lopes, who estimated an over 90% turnout. “The number of cars in the parking lot is noticeably lower than on previous strike days, indicating strong participation,” Lopes stated.
This marks the 24th strike organized by the union since 2023, due to Nobre Alimentação in Rio Maior, within the Santarém district, maintaining unwillingness to negotiate the workers’ demands, having failed to present an alternative proposal even after conciliatory meetings on September 1 and October 23 with the Directorate-General for Employment and Labor Relations (DGERT).
The strike will resume on Monday, with around 40 workers gathered in front of the company deciding to “continue the strike next month,” on a date still to be defined. This will likely coincide with a general strike expected to be determined on Saturday during the CGTP-IN’s organized protest.
The workers’ demands at Nobre include a 150-euro salary increase, improved meal subsidies (from the current 5.50 euros to eight euros), adjustments in night shift penalties, changes to longevity pay, a right to 25 vacation days, and the elimination of precarious employment contracts, among other requests.
A new conciliation meeting between the union and the company at DGERT is scheduled for December 17. According to Lopes, “the management has agreed to present a counterproposal,” but noted, “they had the opportunity to do so at the previous two meetings but did not,” prompting a further strike in December.
Lopes added, “We continue to hope they will propose something viable, but if it’s similar to the previous five-euro increase offer, it will not be accepted, as it fails to address workers’ issues.”
Nobre Alimentação has yet to respond to inquiries.
In a statement, the Regional Directorate of Santarém of the Portuguese Communist Party (DORSA of PCP) praised the “struggle” of the Nobre workers, stating it serves as “an example and encouragement for other sectors in the region.” The PCP reiterated its solidarity, highlighting the workers’ “unity and tenacity.”
