Portugal: Beats you may not have heard of

Portugal: Beats you may not have heard of

While France has been facing a major social movement against pension reform for weeks, the European continent has not been spared from social conflict. In Portugal, many sectors are mobilized. In the coming weeks, other social movements are planned. Here’s how you might be affected.

Strike at the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF)

Three unions of immigration and border workers have called a strike from 5 to 10 April. During the Easter period, when thousands of foreigners travel to Portugal, passenger traffic at airports is likely to be compromised.

This social movement is driven by the adjustment of performance of the SEF required by the government of Antonio Costa, who published this new organization in the Portuguese Official Gazette (Diario da Repubblica). After this reform, the staff will be divided between the Portuguese Criminal Police (PJ), the Institute of Records and Notaries (IRN) and the Portuguese Agency for Migration and Asylum (APMA) in the future. However, there is no agreement between the government and the unions on how to proceed with the implementation of this reform. Negotiations have been going on for several months, and according to the unions, the government did not result in only two points, which are the equality of agents in exercising their jobs at border posts during appointment and the postponement of assessments until 2024.

Negotiations are not over yet, and union and government representatives must meet on April 3.

Strike in Portuguese TAP Airlines

The union of civil aviation pilots of TAP Air Portugal called a strike between 7 and 10 April. However, the Ministry of Finance approved an agreement reached between TAP management and the pilots, which had already received the go-ahead from the Ministry of Infrastructure, a necessary condition for canceling the strike. The trade union organization said it was awaiting official confirmation of the suspension of the strike. More than 24 hours after the announcement, there was no indication that the notice had been rescinded.

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The agreement signed between the Federation and the Portuguese Executive is intended, among other things, to put an end to the intention to implement collective dismissal of employees.

Railway strike

Also in the field of transport, seven Portuguese unions in the railway sector launched new strikes on Tuesday. Trains stop between 10am and 11am Lisbon time. These short-term disruptions to work are expected to continue through the end of April. Relates to two public companies (Infraestruturas de Portugal and Comboios de Portugal)

However, a 24-hour strike is scheduled for April 6, if the government does not issue a decision to resort to minimum service. The movement of trains is not the only one affected by this strike movement, the services that operate the tracks and trains will also be affected, according to a press release issued by the trade unions.

These strikes will have an impact on the entire country. By comparison, in December 2022, a 24-hour strike, in which minimum service was set, removed more than 700 train lines out of about 1,000 that were supposed to be implemented.

Court strike

The justice sector is also affected by the strike movement launched by the Union of Civil Servants in the sector. Several courts have been banned, and this movement has led to a reaction from the Bar Association, which considers itself aggrieved. This strike started in July 2022 but has been discontinued. It resumed on January 10, for an indefinite period, every day between 1:30 pm and midnight.

Justice officials said in a letter to the Bar Association last year that they “forced to stop“for”Rethink, denounce the situation, guarantee working conditions. To ensure fair justice for all!“.

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On March 16, the Judicial Officers Union launched a strike that is supposed to last a month. More than 21,000 trials have already been postponed, with Porto being the hardest hit region. Faced with this situation, the government decided, through the General Directorate of Administration of Justice, the minimum level of service. Bailiffs demand, among other things, to unfreeze jobs and revise the salary scale.

The advisory board of the Public Prosecutor’s Office was asked to give an “opinion” on the illegality of these strikes. This body concluded the illegality and the possibility of imposing disciplinary sanctions against the professionals. However, professionals assure that they will continue to strike.

Teachers strike

In October 2022, Portuguese teachers start a strike movement led by nine unions. This Tuesday, another strike begins, during overtime, which will affect the final ratings. Teachers will also strike the last hour of their daily work time.

Between April 17th and May 12th, strikes will be organized locally. On 6 June, another nationwide strike and protest by teachers was planned.

Unions are demanding, among other things, “The number of teaching hours teachers must work is effectively respected and the weekly schedule of teachers is effectively 35 hours and no moreAs the National Federation of Teachers (FENPROF) website notes.

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About the Author: Germano Álvares

"Desbravador de cerveja apaixonado. Álcool alcoólico incurável. Geek de bacon. Viciado em web em geral."

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