Public-sector workers report 80% participation in 24-hour strike, disrupting hospitals, schools and social institutions nationwide.
By 11:15 this morning, the public-sector strike had reached around 80% participation across all services, the secretary-general of Fesinap, Mário Rui, told press.
“We have 80% turnout across all areas of the public administration,” revealed the head of the National Federation of Independent Public Administration Unions and Public-Purpose Entities (Fesinap). According to the union chief, an updated assessment will be made mid-afternoon.
“We’re now waiting for 3pm, when hospital shifts rotate, to see what the final participation figures look like,” he added.
The strike, which is operating with minimum service levels, covers workers across all public-sector areas, both general and specialised, and is affecting every nook of the system, including hospitals, courthouses, schools and private social-solidarity institutions (IPSS).
Public-sector employees are protesting against the labour reform package put forward by the government.
They are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Government’s controversial proposed labour reform. An urgent meeting with the government regarding this so-called “Trabalho XXI” reform, an end to what they describe as anti-union discrimination by the administration, and full Fesinap participation in labour negotiations, are the key issues behind the 24-hour walkout.
“The strike follows the labour package the Government has presented to the unions. In our view, this package represents a rollback of more than 20 years in labour legislation, a setback for workers and for future generations. It brings inconsistency, uncertainty, and every kind of negative outcome for the labour market,” Mário Rui told journalists earlier this week.
According to the Fesinap secretary-general, the reform will leave Portuguese workers even worse off compared with their European counterparts.
“That is why the public administration will be on strike [on Friday]. We are expecting major disruption across virtually all sectors, in schools, courts, hospitals, Social Security services, and so on. It will be a strong signal ahead of 11 December, the day of the general strike, and for 12 December as well, because Fesinap will also be issuing a strike notice for that day,” he said.
Mário Rui added that the strike also aims to highlight what he describes as the trade-union discrimination practised by successive governments.
“We represent thousands of workers who do not identify with the union structures that regularly meet with the Government, I mean UGT and CGTP. We have been trying to enter into dialogue with the Government for years, but it has consistently chosen to speak only with the main union confederations,” he said.
For the Fesinap secretary-general, this stance by the Executive is “anti-democratic and incomprehensible.”
“If the Government maintains this position, workers will take to the streets to defend their rights and the rights of their families. The Government needs to look at Fesinap differently, we have thousands of affiliated workers,” he emphasised.
Source: LUSA
Photo credit: Fesinap
