Portugal
The FNSFP public service union federation continues to express its opposition to government proposals to increase the pension age. From the end of this year a full pension will no longer be available at 60 after 36 years' service. The age and length of service will gradually increase over the next 10 years until a full pension will only be available at 65 years of age after 40 years' service.
Read more at > FNSFP
The UGT and CCOO union federations, along with the United Platform of Firefighters, have written to the government to complain about the failure to change the necessary social security regulations to enable a reduction in the retirement age for firefighters. The unions warn of a nationwide mobilisation of firefighters if the government doesn't fulfil the promises it made in negotiations earlier this year. Read more at > FSAP-CCOO (ES) And at > FSP-UGT (ES)
(July 2016) Firefighters have been mobilising around the country and in some regions taking industrial action to defend their right to early retirement. In some regions firefighters have been handing in petitions to local authorities while in addition some firefighters have been dealing with emergency calls only. Firefighters currently have early retirement rights between 55 and 59 and want to resist the demand by employers to move to 60. Read more at FNV (NL).
The Spanish government is the latest to use the crisis to argue that an increase in retirement age is necessary. The main trade unions have attacked the plan to raise the retirement age from 65 to 67 as an unnecessary and disproportionate response to pressures on public spending. The unions say that other measures can be considered, including continuing the trend to less early retirement before 65. Read more at > FSC-CCOO (ES) And at > FSP-UGT (ES)
