Walkout will cause paralysis of entire national network for more than 24-hours
Workers at CP – Comboios de Portugal, the country’s rail operator, will be going on strike on June 28, demanding salary increases and career enhancements, according to a document signed by more than 10 trade union organisations.
“A group of trade union organisations has been meeting to analyse the negotiation processes at CP and IP (Infraestruturas de Portugal – the country’s road and rail infrastructure managing company), and has decided to hand in a strike notice to CP for June 28,” reads the joint statement.
The strike covers all workers and will ensure “situations of entry before 00:00 and exits after 24:00 on that day” – meaning paralysation will be total for possibly more than 24-hours.
The document in question is signed by the Trade Union Association of Intermediate Railway Managers (ASCEF), the Independent Trade Union Association of Commercial Railwaymen (ASSIFECO), the National Transport Union (FENTCOP), the National Syndicate of Railways in Movement and Similar (SINAFE), the National Democratic Syndicate of the Railways (Sindefer) and the Independent Syndicate of Railway and Infrastructure Workers and Similar (SINFA).
The National Independent Union of Railway Workers (SINFB), the Independent Union of Railway and Related Workers (SIOFA), the National Union of Technical Staff (SNAQ), the Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (Fectrans) and the Railway Transport Union (STF) also signed the decision.
“It’s time to move on from the discontent expressed in conversations in the workplace to action and struggle.
“All together, in unity, we are going to show CP’s management and the sector’s supervisory body that the workers want to see their working conditions improved,” says the statement.
The unions emphasise that they have not gone ahead with the strike at IP, as meetings are still taking place.
Post June 28, unions will assess whether or not there have been any developments that meet the demands made, concludes Lusa.
Source material: LUSA
