Unions’ outlook habitually pessimistic
Thousands of people gathered in Lisbon yesterday to commemorate the May 1 ‘Day of the Worker’ – with the country’s unions being habitually pessimistic over the overall picture for the country’s ‘employees’.
Tiago Oliveira, the general secretary of Portugal’s largest trade union federation, the CGTP-In, told the assembled throng: “We have a long way to go, a long way to go (…) We have a government of economic groups… but just last week we had one of the biggest demonstrations ever in defence and affirmation of the values of April” (this being a reference to the marches to mark the 50th anniversary of the April 25 coup in 1974 that overthrew decades of fascist dictatorship).
“It’s up to all of us, in every company, in every workplace, to fight for a better life,” he said, while UGT counterpart Mário Mourão told Lusa that what he had seen of the country’s new government did not fill him with much enthusiasm.
All that being said – as it always is, every Labour Day, irrespective of the colour of the government – prime minister Luís Montenegro saw the day in a very much different light, posting over social media: “Today we celebrate with all workers: those who produce, create and contribute to a modern and ambitious Portugal. Public policies must serve to improve employment in a more productive and socially responsible country, with lower taxes and more income.
Happy #LabourDay”.
