General strike: CGTP hails strong turnout, government says 'country operating as normal'
The government has already responded to Wednesday’s general strike, playing down its overall impact. Even so, the late afternoon was marked by disturbances outside the Assembly of the Republic, where one of...
The government has already responded to Wednesday’s general strike, playing down its overall impact. Even so, the late afternoon was marked by disturbances outside the Assembly of the Republic, where one of several demonstrations against the labour law was taking place, in a day dominated by the general strike.
Following the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said the walkout “ended up only hurting a lot of people”, while stressing that he did not intend “to call into question the exercise” of that right.
He illustrated this, in comments quoted by CNN Portugal (source in Portuguese): “Many children found their schools closed, many teenagers were unable to sit exams because the conditions were not in place, many Portuguese who had consultations or scheduled surgery saw those appointments cancelled, and some people who could not travel to their workplace because public transport was not running were genuinely harmed by this strike.”
Earlier, at a press conference around 11.30 a.m., the Minister of Labour, Maria Rosário da Palma Ramalho, said that “the overwhelming majority of workers are at work” and therefore “the country is functioning normally.”
According to the minister, provisional data from CIP (the Portuguese Business Confederation) showed that “in the private sector, adherence is absolutely residual and in some areas even non-existent”.
Running through a long list of sectors, she started with industry: “all factories are working”, she noted.
In retail too, “the shutters are up”, in the banking sector “no branches are closed” and in tourism “there is no disruption, not even in travel agencies”, despite disruption at airports due to cancelled flights.
The minister also said that private hospitals were “operating normally”, while acknowledging “higher levels of participation” in the public sector.
However, despite greater unrest in the public sector, Maria Rosário Ramalho insisted that “services are being maintained” and stressed that “the government listens to everyone and fully respects the right to strike”.
This reading by the government clashes with the statements made by the secretary-general of the CTGP-IN (General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – National Intersindical), Tiago Oliveira, who said that “the figures point to a major strike”.
Early in the afternoon, Tiago Oliveira spoke to journalists to present data from parts of the private industrial sector where participation in the strike was 100%, such as DS Smith-Leiria, Saica, Sovena and Cedial.
The union leader also pointed to strong participation in some companies in construction, ceramics, cement and glass.
Contrary to what the minister said, the union confederation reported significant impacts at private hospitals in the Lusíadas group in Amadora and Lisbon, at Hospital Cuf in Sintra and at Hospital da Luz in Lisbon.
In transport, Tiago Oliveira cited 100% participation at the Lisbon Metro, TransdevViseu and the Guarda Urban Transport Company, as well as Covilhã Urban Transport, along with “Carris workshops with 98% participation; Soflusa/Transtejo with 85% participation and CP operating only minimum services”.
“The objective is to denounce the labour package, it is to get the labour package withdrawn,” said Tiago Oliveira outside Nuno Gonçalves primary school in Lisbon in the morning, a school that was closed because of the general strike.
“For ten months, workers have made it clear they do not want the labour package and the prime minister (Luís Montenegro) has shown arrogance and a lack of respect for workers,” he added.
Hospitals affected since yesterday
The general strike brought an almost total shutdown of night shifts at hospitals in the National Health Service (SNS).
According to the National Federation of Public and Social Service Workers’ Unions (FNSTFPS), participation among SNS workers in last night’s strike stood between 95% and 100%, underscoring strong opposition to the labour package.
The impact of the walkout has been felt in several health units across the country. Hospital de São Francisco Xavier, which is part of the Lisbon West Local Health Unit (ULS Lisboa Ocidental), and Hospital de São José, part of the Lisbon East Local Health Unit (ULS Lisboa Oriental), both recorded 100% participation. At Hospital Santa Maria, also in ULS Lisboa Ocidental, participation was 90%, while at Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira, in the Estuário do Tejo Local Health Unit, it was 71%.
In Porto, there was full participation at the Viseu Dão Lafões Local Health Unit hospital and at Hospital de São João. The Portuguese Oncology Institute in Porto reported 90% participation.
Maternity Bissaya Barreto and the University Hospitals complex, both part of the Coimbra Local Health Unit, saw a total stoppage by their staff. At Hospital de Santarém, in the Lezíria Local Health Unit, participation in the strike was 74%.
According to SIC Notícias, outpatient appointments at Portalegre Hospital are not taking place, although minimum services are being ensured.
This is the first time that workers at SNS24 (source in Portuguese) have joined a general strike, which means it may be more difficult today to speak to a health professional via this helpline. Waiting times may reach three hours. The stoppage comes at a time when the SNS 24 line is already under severe operational pressure.
Schools closed on the day of the 6th year Portuguese exam
Many schools are also closed across the country, affecting the Portuguese exam for 6th year pupils, scheduled for Wednesday.
Speaking to SIC Notícias, the secretary-general of FENPROF, José Feliciano da Costa, said there was “significant participation” in the strike in Sintra, Olivais, Fundão, Coimbra, Moita, Castelo Branco and Mafra. In his view, the education minister’s decision not to postpone the exam shows that “the exams are not a priority” and “could be held on any other day”.
Almost 190 flights cancelled, metro shut and river links suspended
As for international flights, almost 190 have so far been cancelled at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports.
The website of ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (source in Portuguese) shows that at least 43 arrivals have been cancelled at Lisbon airport, along with 46 departures. At Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro airport, 29 arrivals and 27 departures have been cancelled. In Faro, 21 arrivals and 23 departures have been cancelled.
The Lisbon Metro (source in Portuguese) is at a standstill, as no minimum services are in place. On the Porto Metro (source in Portuguese), where four lines – Green, Red, Violet and Orange – are not operating, only the Blue and Yellow lines remain in service.
Tejo river services (Transtejo (source in Portuguese)), which link the two banks of the river, have seen several crossings suspended. CP – Comboios de Portugal (source in Portuguese), for its part, is forecasting disruption to train services.
More than twenty companies across the country have also suspended activity.
The Labour Code stipulates that, in the event of a strike, minimum services must be ensured in companies or entities providing services essential to meeting urgent social needs. These include postal and telecommunications services, medical, hospital and pharmaceutical care, public hygiene and health – including funeral services – as well as energy and mining services, notably the supply of fuel.
This stoppage is a protest against the proposed changes to labour legislation, also known as “Work XXI”, put forward by the PSD/CDS-PP government, which would introduce more than 100 amendments to the Labour Code.
The package of measures was discussed in the Standing Commission for Social Dialogue, but the government led by Luís Montenegro failed to reach agreement with the social partners, prompting CGTP-IN to go ahead with the previously announced strike notice.
Story being updated
