In an interview, Mário Mourão stated it is a “priority” for the general strike planned for next Thursday, in collaboration with CGTP, to receive an “adequate” and “firm” response from workers against the government’s draft labor law reform.
The UGT leader expressed readiness to negotiate immediately after the strike but is skeptical about the government’s willingness to engage in discussions.
“It is important, starting December 12, when we sit down, to know whether the parties are still available to deepen dialogue and collective negotiation. Many statements made during this period make us wonder if there is an intention to provoke UGT into a rupture,” Mourão questioned, particularly noting the minister’s comment about maintaining key aspects while claiming openness to dialogue.
“UGT does not seek rupture unless it comes from the government,” the UGT secretary-general ensured, emphasizing they would only leave the negotiating table if “pushed.”
“There are many ways to push someone out: saying, ‘we are wasting time or achieving nothing here. It’s better to end this.’ If that happens, it won’t be from UGT,” he reiterated.
Mário Mourão further noted the government seems “comfortable” submitting the proposal to the Assembly of the Republic, given it has parliamentary backing likely to pass the document, referring to Chega’s expressed willingness to negotiate changes.
“Whoever approves it must assume the consequences and responsibilities,” he warned, arguing that as it stands, the draft is “bad for those in the working world,” despite some improvements in areas of breastfeeding, parenthood, or increasing collective dismissal compensation from 14 to 15 days.
Although pointing out the “political weight” difference between a proposal presented to parliament with or without social consultation agreement is “very different,” Mário Mourão claimed this is not the “drama.”
“UGT wants this proposal, if possible, to be a much different document than it currently is when it goes to the Assembly,” he explained, citing the example of the Dignified Work Agenda, approved without social consultation agreement.
If the proposal remains as is and is approved, the secretary-general of this union promises UGT’s stance will “change significantly,” though he declined to specify what would be on the table, deferring decisions to “internal debate” among UGT-affiliated unions.
To UGT, the current government proposal is “ideological” and does not address labor and business market challenges, namely low wages or the need to boost micro and small enterprises.
“It’s a very comfortable proposal for employers,” he concluded.
CGTP and UGT have called for a general strike on December 11 in response to the government’s draft labor law reform.
This will be the first joint strike by the two unions since June 2013, during Portugal’s ‘troika’ intervention period.
