Union leader Sebastian Santana of the Common Front for Public Administration said on Tuesday that he expects a “mass affiliation” to Friday’s national strike of civil servants, anticipating unrest in health, education, central and local services.
“We are waiting for the civil servants to join the strike en masse,” the Common Front coordinator said at a press conference in Lisbon, adding that “central public administration services, local authorities, health services, among other things, will be affected.” … others, because the claims are very fair.”
Sebastian Santana also foresees a “strong coupling” in education that could lead to school closures.
“Public administration workers have been losing purchasing power for decades, the government is not responding, we see a picture of a general impoverishment of workers in the country,” the union leader said.
Asked if Friday’s strike could lead to school closures, Sebastián Santana replied that attempts were being made in the sector to obstruct the exercise of the right to strike, but that “if the law is respected by municipalities and school directors, Yes.”
The union leader said that if “attempts to obstruct the legitimate exercise of the right to strike” in education are confirmed, the trade union federation “will take appropriate measures.”
According to him, the unions of the Common Front in education, representing non-teaching workers, announced a strike in advance on the 17th, and the proposed minimum service for schools was not contested, but “there were attempts to impose other strikes.”
“We are talking about pre-notifications that are only for the 17th, there has been no contestation of the minimum services proposed by the Common Front unions in this sector, so we are not waiting for any municipality or any school principal to introduce minimum services for this . day,” added Sebastian Santana.
On February 23, the General Front of Public Administration Trade Unions called a nationwide strike on March 17 demanding an immediate increase in wages and better careers and public services, given the “impoverishment situation” of the workers.
The Common Front strike comes ahead of a national demonstration called by the CGTP in Lisbon on the 18th for higher wages and against rising costs of living, with Sebastián Santana predicting active participation of public administration workers.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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