Growing and converging struggles in Portugal

CGTP-IN – GrowingandconvergingstrugglesinPortugal

InPortugal , workersorganisedintheCGTP-INTradeUnions , havebeensteppinguptheirac�onsand struggle , culmina�ng , onJuly7th inana�onalMarchthatconvergedtoLisbon . Overthelastweeks , hundredsofworkers ’ asmbliesandralies , plusmorethan60strikestookplance overthewholecountry . Struggleswhichinvolvedworkersfrom boththepublicandprivatesectors , healthmanufacturing , retail , transport , services , food , catering , hotels , amongother , thusexpresingthegrowingdemandofresponses totheirproblems .
Curentstruggleac�onsaredemandinghigherwagesandpensions , tofaceuptotherisingcostofliving . Theyopposethea�ackonrightsandtheabsenceofresponsetothedeepeningofproblems , par�cularly inthehealthsector , alsofavouringprivateconcerns .
Theyopposethechangesinthelabourlegisla�on , whichmaintainoraggravatethealreadymorenega�ve provisionsinourlabourlaws , especialyblockadestocolec�vebargaining , working�mederegula�on , increasedprecarityandlimita�onoftradeunionfreedoms , thtroughstrongerconstraintsandcurbingof tradeunionaccestoworkplacesandofworkers ’ organisa�on .
InPortugal , morethan500thousandworkersarelivinginpoverty ; milionsofyoungworkerslive on625 € amonth ; 2.7milionworkersliveonlesthan1000 € amonth ; and70 % ofthejobscreatedin2022 havecasualcontractlinks . Workersdonotacceptthis , thismodelmustbebroken .
Thisiswhymanythousandsofworkershavebeenfigh�ngandtooktothestreetson7July , forthisgreat na�onalCGTP-INdemonstra�on -Fora35hourworkingweekforalworkers , withoutlosofsalary . -Fortheeradica�on ofprecarity . -ForthereinforcementofpublicservicesandoftheStatesocialobliga�ons . -Promo�on ofcolec�vebargainingwithrights -Foranextraordinarypayrise , tocompensateforhigherinfla�on . -FortheextraordinaryincreaseoftheNa�onalMinimum Salaryto800 €. -Fortheextraordinaryriseofre�rementpensions . -Fortheaser�onoftradeunionfreedoms .
Thesearestrugglesthataddup , insolidarity , tothestrugglesyouarewaginginmanyofyourcountries , struggleswesaluteonthisoccasion . Theseare�mesinwhichworkersmustreinforcetheirorganisa�onand , struggle , inapaththatmaybuild analterna�vele�orientedandsovereignpolicy , respondingtothecountry ’ sproblems , developmentand thatpromotesitslivingcondi�ons . ThisisalsoamomenttofightforanotherEurope , oftheworkers andpeoples , foraworldofpeaceandsocialjus�ce .