An agreement was reached for a 3.5% salary increase with a minimum of 53 euros per month after numerous meetings and proposals.
The workers, who protested twice, had demanded a 4% raise in their final proposal.
While the company maintained the 3.5% rate, it increased the minimum hike from 47 to 53 euros, as workers requested.
“We achieved at least the minimum value of a 53-euro salary increase, aligning with the minimum wage development, and the percentage of 3.5%,” stated Rui Medeiros, coordinator of the Southern and Islands Electrical Industries Union (SIESI), in a statement to Lusa.
According to the union leader, most SIESI members accepted the proposal, though it was not unanimous, as some workers felt the increase should be 4%.
“There was an effort by the administration that workers came to recognize, and we accepted, but a fair value would be different,” he noted.
Antonio Melo, a leader from the National Industry and Energy Union (SINDEL), stated that their members accepted the proposal “for the sake of social peace,” but warned the administration and shareholders that they would focus on two key points in future negotiations.
Firstly, he argued, “unions cannot and will not allow the minimum wage to ever become the entry wage in the company.”
Secondly, there must be a convergence with mainland energy sector wages.
“This convergence must be carried out gradually, but it must occur, and it can’t be achieved with percentage values below 1%,” he remarked.
According to the union, workers at EDP and the Madeira Electricity Company earn 30 to 40% more than those at EDA.
“Madeira Electricity caught up with the national sector with a 2% annual gain. In addition to negotiation, they automatically had 2%. We have managed some convergence, but we’re still far from the recovery that Madeira Electricity achieved in five years,” insisted Antonio Melo.
The unions had called for a strike on overtime and travel starting June 2, which has now been canceled.
