Union reps deliver “series of demands” to prime minister’s official residence
With the media focused on this afternoon’s State of the Nation debate in parliament, hundreds of public sector workers have been demonstrating not far away for ‘fair wages’, which they believe must be increased on current paypackets to the tune of 15% (or a minimum of €150).
The Common Front of Public Administration Trade Unions organised the protest, and hundreds marched from the Estrela Basilica to São Bento Palace chanting “health, education, social security are universal rights”, “the struggle continues” and “a pay rise is urgent and necessary”.
Common Front coordinator, Sebastião Santana, considers that the proposal to increase wages by 15% to a minimum of €150 is “fair on the road to recovering purchasing power”.
“We are certainly open to negotiations, and we look forward to discussing more meaningful increases than the paltry 1% or 2% that the government has been offering,” he said.
Santana also believes this demand is “perfectly feasible” adding that “the State Budget has items that, if distributed differently, would allow for this increase or even greater increases”.
Secretary-general of the CGTP, Tiago Oliveira, who was also present at the demonstration, told journalists that the policies that have been followed have completely overlooked and underfunded a “series of public services”.
“This government has included in its programme the continuation of a policy that reallocates public services, redirects the National Health Service, reevaluates public schools and now reexamines social security,” he said.
Oliveira also stated that the integrated system for performance management and evaluation in public administration (SIADAP) requires updates to fully support the valorisation of careers of public administration workers.
He accused the government of being “committed to right-wing policies that limit workers’ life opportunities”.
During the protest, protesters played Zeca Afonso’s Grândola Vila Morena, and groups of young people played drums as they led the march to the PM’s official residence in São Bento.
Source: Lusa
