Portugal joins the dynamic of class struggle that is beginning to appear in Europe, whose vanguard or epicenter we could say is Italy. A fundamental, strategic actor with revolutionary potential, is once again raising its head (after years of blows from neoliberalism – today in crisis -), in many cases forcing the bureaucratized leadership of the unions from below to call for fighting measures.
December 11 strike
It is already anticipated that this general strike will be felt in transportation, health and education and starting this Wednesday night there will be pickets with the double objective of making the demands visible and helping the strike to expand.
The intention of the government of Prime Minister LuĆs Montenegro, belonging to the center-right Social Democracy and leading the conservative government coalition of the Social Democratic Party -PSD- and Social Democratic Center Party -CDS-, is to get parliament to approve the modification of 100 articles of the current Labor Code. A labor reform that the Portuguese Government presents as something that will make it possible, thanks to greater flexibility, to hire workers. But the reality, if this change is approved, will facilitate layoffs, promote temporary work and weaken acquired rights. In addition to reinstating the āindividual hour bankā, which would allow the working day to be extended up to 50 hours per week with a maximum of 150 overtime hours per year, without additional payment. On the other hand, it restricts union organization in workplaces where there are still no delegates.
That is why the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP, led by the Communist Party) and the General Union of Workers (UGTP, with great influence from the Socialist Party), had to come out to announce these forceful measures, in addition to mobilizations in cities such as Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Coimbra, Ćvora and others.
The international media refers to the last general strike called by both centers, 12 years ago, when what was known as “the troika”, the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF in 2012 gave a million-dollar loan to that country, to “save it” from the economic crisis in which it was mired (a crisis that had as its “mark of origin” the economic crisis of capitalism of 2008), but which in reality was a rescue that, as always, was accompanied by greater submission from Portugal, more adjustment and flexibility for working people. Now the government of Montenegro intends to double down. One of the first responses from workers and youth will be felt this Thursday the 11th.
Tiago Oliveira, Secretary General of the CGTP, regarding this labor reform and the reference to the “troika” policy in 2012: “Who was in the Government in 2012? They are exactly the same protagonists who today promote this review of labor legislation. The argument changes, but the objective is the same. In 2012 they used the pretext of the troika to cut rights. Today, in full employment and with an economy that the Government itself says is growing, they use the discourse of productivity and modernization. To do what? Exactly the same: remove rights, increase precariousness, deregulate the working day labor, attack the right to strike and facilitate dismissals.
Some public services, such as schools and waste collection, have planned 2 days of strike – until Friday the 12th. That day the Democratic Union of Nurses of Portugal also calls for a strike, also against the labor reform and for its collective labor agreement, for its part the central, regional and local Public Administration will also stop on Friday the 12th.
The key to this fight that begins against a completely reactionary labor reform is unity from below, that large sectors of the working class, youth and women can impose on the union centers to hit all together as a single fist until these policies of the right-wing government of Portugal are defeated. This Thursday the 11th is the first warning that they are moving.
Follow the day live on the Red Internacional de Izquierda Diario, with special coverage from our reporters in Portugal
12:20
Interview | Eduardo Florido, union coordinator of the CGTP in Portugal, tells us the reasons why they are going on strike after the labor reform in Montenegro that facilitates dismissals and makes workers precarious
12:00
A significant part of the schools are closed due to the strike
The National Federation of Teachers (FENPROF) assures that “a significant part” of schools are closed this Thursday due to the general strike in Portugal against the labor reform proposed by the Government of Prime Minister LuĆs Montenegro.
The general secretary of FENPROF, JosĆ© Feliciano Costa, told EFE during a picket at the Marquise of Alorna Basic School, in Lisbon, that the day is taking place in accordance with his expectations. “There is a significant adhesion of teachers here in the metropolitan area of āāLisbon, which is where there is the highest concentration of teachers and students,” said Costa, who highlighted that, according to preliminary data available, a good part of the country’s schools are closed today. Costa also highlighted that “the teachers have clearly understood what is on the table, which is a proposal for a Labor Code that is very aggressive, with great setbacks in the rights of workers, with direct implications for teachers and the enhancement of their careers.”
11:15
The general strike affects hospitals and health centers in different areas of the country
The general strike taking place in Portugal has had strong repercussions on the functioning of the health system. Many hospitals, primary care units and hospital centers have seen their services interrupted or completely suspended, even in especially sensitive areas such as delivery rooms, emergency services and nursing teams.
Among the institutions with the highest level of adherence, the Santa Maria Hospital stands out, where the delivery block is completely paralyzed and the emergencies operate with only 30% of the staff; the Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital, which registers total adherence; the SĆ£o JosĆ© Hospital, with the emergencies completely adhered to the strike; and the D. EstefĆ¢nia Hospital, which barely maintains 6% of activity. In Porto, the SĆ£o JoĆ£o Hospital reaches 95% paralysis, while the GarcĆa de Orta Hospital, in Almada, reaches 72%. In Viseu, SantarĆ©m, Barreiro, Loures and the units of the Tagus Estuary, adhesion is between 92% and 100%. The suspension also affects administrative and logistical services.
11:00
Waste collectors join the general strike en masse
Workers in the waste sector are adding up en masse to the general hue of this jueves in municipalities such as Palmela, Moita, Ćvora, SetĆŗbal, Amadora, SĆ£o JoĆ£o da Talha or Viana do Castelo.
Cristina Torres, president of the National Union of Local and Regional Administration Workers (STAL), indicated that at 10:15 p.m. there had already been 100% adhesion at the start of the shift in the waste collection sector in towns such as Ćvora, SetĆŗbal and Amadora (Lisbon), while Funchal, in Madeira, recorded good adhesion.
10:45
Pilot strike: of the 283 flights planned at TAP, only 63 will be carried out
In statements to RTP, the president of the Civil Aviation Pilots Union (SPAC) stated that “of the 283 flights planned in TAP, only minimum service flights will be operated, which are about 63.”
HĆ©lder Santinhos criticized the labor package, which “affects all workers”, recognizing that pilots would be the least “affected” by it. The pilots’ strike is, therefore, “an attitude of solidarity with the most vulnerable” and left a warning: “If we insist on carrying out these laws, the pilots’ union will not be able to remain indifferent.”
10:00
The general strike begins in Portugal with pickets at Autoeuropa and long lines on transport
The general strike on December 11 against the labor reform of the right-wing government of Montenegro begins. Today it is expected that there will be several pickets throughout the day and that the follow-up of the strike will be massive. Report from the pickets at the entrances to Volkswagen Autoeuropa, 40 minutes from Lisbon, the largest automobile factory in Portugal.
Source: www.laizquierdadiario.com
