An arbitration tribunal has ruled that the minimum fare for urban and regional train services will be 20%, but a strike by CP workers called by several unions and scheduled for Monday and Wednesday is expected to cause disruption.
According to information published on the CP website, the minimum services were set for urban and regional trains, without covering the rest. The Arbitration Court’s decision in the above-mentioned percentage applies to regional and interregional services (Minho, Douro, East, West, Beira Baixa and Northern lines – in the last case to Coimbra/Entroncamento and back) and urban lines (Azambuja, Coimbra and Guimarães lines).
“We inform you that, due to the strikes called by the unions ASCEF, ASSIFECO, FENTCOP, SINAFE, SINDEFER, SINFA, SINFB, SIOFA, SNAQ, SNTSF, STF and STMEFE, between 00:00 and 24:00 on 22 and 24 July 2024, interruptions in circulation are expected, which will affect 22 and 24 July,” CP said in a statement.
“For customers who already have purchased tickets for travel on Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, international, interregional and regional trains, CP will allow a refund of the total cost of the purchased ticket or its free exchange for another train on the same route, in the same category and in the same class,” he said.
Refunds or exchanges can be made on the CP website or at the ticket office no later than 15 minutes before departure. They may also ask for a refund within 10 days of the strike.
These workers were already on strike on June 28.
It is “unacceptable” for the trade unions that the Communist Party administration, which has guaranteed that the agreement concluded with the trade union organization will be extended to all workers, wants to make this a condition for the adoption of the proposed career regulations.
The government, the Communist Party and the National Union of Portuguese Railway Engineers (SMAQ), which had been on strike from June 27 to July 14 but was suspended, recently reached an agreement.
The operator also reached an agreement with the Union of Commercial Rail Transport (SFRCI) on a career review, including a 1.5% pay rise and an increase in food allowance to €9.20.
Fectrans said the proposal “increases the versatility of functions and does not take into account salary scales”, which it said was a “strategic measure” to recruit new workers and retain current ones.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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