The unions regret that the government and the Communist Party have not made efforts to reach a joint agreement.

The trade unions that organised the KP workers’ strike on Friday expressed regret on Saturday that the government and the company had made “no effort” to reach a joint agreement.

“We regret that CP and the industry watchdog have made no effort to reach a joint union agreement,” the statement released on Saturday said.

On Friday, the government announced in a statement that the strike, which lasted from June 27 to July 14, had been suspended after reaching an agreement with the National Union of Portuguese Railway Engineers (SMAQ).

In addition to this strike, more than 10 trade union structures also organized a strike that took place on Friday, in which almost 100% participated.

However, the government and the CP have not held any further negotiations with these unions. The last meeting took place on Wednesday.

“KP is much more than just train drivers. This group of unions continues to fight and the unrest will continue indefinitely until the CP meets the demands of all workers who are struggling to increase the value of their professional careers,” they assured.

In response to Lusa’s question, the general secretary of the Federation of Transport and Communications Trade Unions (Fectrans), José Manuel Oliveira, confirmed this Saturday that there was no agreement with either the federation or the unions that signed the strike notice of June 28.

“[…] We don’t even know of a single proposal. The last one was last Wednesday,” he stressed.

Negotiations between CP and SMAQ, mediated by Secretary of State for Mobility Cristina Pinto Dias, have allowed “to reach an agreement on several labor issues, namely an increase in wages and food allowances, which will benefit all the company’s workers,” the Infrastructure Ministry said on Friday.

In turn, CP stressed in its statement that the parties had reached an “agreement regarding career rules,” stressing that SMAQ intends to immediately end the strike.

The remaining unions that were on strike on Friday complied with the strike.

Joining the strike were the Union of Middle Managers (ASCEF), the Independent Trade Union of Commercial Railway Workers (ASSIFECO), the National Union of Transport, Communications and Public Works (FENTCOP), and the National Union of Railway Workers. The Labor Movement and Allied Workers’ Movement (SINAFE), the National Democratic Union of Railway Workers (Sindefer) and the Independent Union of Railway, Infrastructure and Allied Workers (SINFA).

National Independent Union of Railway Workers (SINFB), Independent Union of Railway Operators and Allied Trades (SIOFA), National Union of Technical Personnel (SNAQ), Federation of Trade Unions of Transport and Communications (Fectrans), Union of Railway Transport (STF). ), the National Union of Portuguese Railway Engineers (SMAQ) and the National Union of Railway Workers (SNTSF) also joined.

José Manuel Oliveira has already mentioned that what is at stake is low entry salaries, “very close to the national minimum wage”, as well as a reduction in the difference between the basic and upper career ladder for KP workers, which is around 100 euros.

As a result, he noted, fewer and fewer workers remain at the enterprise, despite the fact that the number of passengers and profits have increased.

According to data sent to Luso by the company, the strike by CP – Comboios de Portugal workers led to the suspension of 934 trains out of 1,247 scheduled (74.9%) from 00:00 to 22:00 on Friday.