This Sunday, the infrastructure minister reiterated that the TAP president’s bonus would only be paid if the restructuring plan was “fully implemented” and accused the BE coordinator of being “totally ignorant” of the company’s situation.
“The bonus only exists if the plan is successful. This was agreed in 2021 when the current CEO of TAP was hired. The bonus will be paid only if the restructuring plan is fully implemented,” Joao Galamba told reporters. port of Lages das Flores in the Azores.
On Friday, the minister already said that “the state is a good person” and that it will fulfill what was agreed on the bonus for the TAP president if the company’s restructuring process goes well.
Following the statements, the BE coordinator criticized João Galamba’s “very unfortunate” award verdict for TAP president, denying “a state of good people for a privileged elite” but which cuts labor rights “without blinking.”
Today, the Infrastructure Minister expressed his hope that “the BE leader is also committed” to the success of the restructuring of the Portuguese air carrier and criticized Katarina Martins for wanting to “not respect the contracts”.
According to the minister, “all contracts must be respected”, whether it be workers or administration.
“I think the BE leader is wrong and shows total ignorance about the TAP position. TAP is in dire economic straits and there was an emergency agreement signed by all unions. I repeat: all trade unions,” he insisted.
João Galamba said that the alternative to restructuring a company in a “difficult situation” would be the “bankruptcy and disappearance” of TAP.
“Apparently, the BE leader wants to break some contracts, but all contracts must be respected. Everything. Workers and administrative,” he stressed.
And he added: “Now all contracts are respected, and we cannot forget that the unions have agreed to all the cuts that exist today.”
The official promised that the TAP government and administration are “working” to ensure the airline’s restructuring plan “goes well.”
“Given the amount of money that has been invested in TAP, it is in the interest of all Portuguese people, and I think that it should depend on all party leaders for this plan to be successful. If everything goes well, this is certainly good news for the Portuguese, who have made a very big effort,” he stressed.
On Thursday, Jornal Económico and CNN Portugal reported that at the time she was hired, the airline’s CEO, Christine Urmier-Wieden, had set conditions so that she could receive a €3 million bonus.