Trade union confederation sees general strike as having “enormous impact”. Government downplays it
Labour reform is at the heart of Thursday's general strike. CGTP estimates that more than three million workers are taking part. The government counters with "insignificant participation".
The secretary-general of the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP), Tiago Oliveira, says that this Thursday’s general strike against the labour law reform is having a “huge impact” on the public and private sectors, with more than three million workers taking part. But the government, through the voice of the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, has a different view: he assures that participation is insignificant and that the “overwhelming majority of the country is working”.
“It looks more like a partial civil service strike. The country is working. Participation in the strike is insignificant”, said the Minister of the Presidency at a press conference to assess the strike.
Leitão Amaro told journalists that, in the “private and social sectors, reports indicate that participation in the strike is between 0% and 10%”. However, the minister did not disclose the official figures for the civil service.
It did not take long, however, for this view of the Executive to be countered by that of the workers’ representatives. Half an hour later, the secretary-general of the CGTP, at a press conference, assured that this is a great day of struggle for workers, demanding the complete withdrawal of the package of changes to labour law.
“The general strike taking place today [Thursday] is one of the largest ever, if not the largest ever. It is a powerful demonstration that workers reject the labour package and the measures that worsen their lives. It is an unequivocal force demanding higher wages, more rights, and more public services”, emphasised Tiago Oliveira.
CGTP estimates three million on strike
“Based on data collected during the night and this morning, the general strike has a turnout that we can estimate at over three million workers”, said the secretary-general, referring to “impressive participation in the fisheries sector, industry, logistics, transport, health, canteens, IPSS, education, local administration, waste collection and culture”.
“In general, in all activities in our country”, observed the trade unionist, who argues that, in the face of these protests, “it is time for the Government to listen to those who work, to listen to their concerns, difficulties and demands’ and ‘withdraw the labour package”.
As for the statements made by the Minister of the Presidency, Tiago Oliveira said that “the Government is completely out of touch with the reality of the country”. “It does not understand the response that workers are giving. It is a Government that is trying in every way possible to diminish the impact and scale of the general strike”, he said.
When asked about a potential new strike if the Government does not withdraw the package of changes to labour law, the union leader said that the CGTP national council will meet on 17 December to assess Thursday’s strike and the Government’s subsequent response. At that meeting, forms of protest will also be discussed.
At the end of July, the government approved in the Council of Ministers and presented to the Social Concertation the draft bill ‘Work XXI’, which put on the table more than 100 changes to the Labour Code, particularly with regard to fixed-term contracts, dismissals, parental leave and time banks.
Since then, the UGT has been critical, but in the meantime, it has decided to agree on a date with the CGTP for a general strike, in protest not only against the measures on the table, but also against the lack of progress in the negotiations.
