Unions continue pay, jobs and hours fight

Portugal

The STAL local government union is planning a series of actions in early 2015 in protest at further austerity measures and to defend the 35-hour week. The union reports that pay cuts of 2.8%-8% are foreseen for those on more than €1500 a month with those below facing a pay freeze that has lasted since 2009. Another 12000 jobs will also be cut from public administration. Public sector unions have managed to negotiated over 530 local agreements to retain the 35-hour week but the struggle is now to get these legally recognised. So far only 30 have been formally published. The union protest will begin on 6 January, with a week of action beginning 26 January and a further protest in February. Meanwhile the SINTAP union organised a strike on 4 December at the ISS social security institution in protest at the threat to nearly 700 jobs.
Read more at > STAL (PT)
And at > SINTAP (PT)

More like this

Aug. 12, 2014

Unions continue 35-hour fight

Portugal

S
Sep. 22, 2016

Fight for 35 hours for all continues

Portugal

(September 2016) Despite the national reform to revert to the 35-hour week across the public sector, trade unions are still having to fight to ensure all workers see their hours reduced from 40 a week. The STAL local government union organised a demonstration outside the Braga town hall on 19 September in protest at the mayor's decision to maintain the 40-hour week for workers employed by private contractors. The union plans further action if the local authority fails to implement the cut in hours. Meanwhile the SEP nurses' union is continuing its local actions around the country to secure the

 S
Jan. 28, 2016

More unions in the fight for 35 hours

Portugal

Three public service unions, including the SEP nurses' union, are taking strike action on 29 January as part of their campaign to defend the 35-hour week. The government attempted to impose a 40-hour week across the public sector over two years ago but met with widespread opposition. Unions have managed to negotiate hundreds of local agreements to retain the 35-hour week. In its action the SEP nurses' union is also highlighting the challenges its members face in trying to maintain services in the face of job cuts and increase sickness absence arising from the pressure of work. [Read more at >

 S