According to the Common Front trade unions, the public administration strike in Faro district had a significant turnout, with 90% of schools without classrooms or health services “totally paralyzed.”
“At the moment we are registering great support for the civil servants’ strike. We have specific data for schools, with about 90% participating. We have health data of about 60/65% and 50% to 90% in schools. local administration, in services related to municipal councils, as well as in tax and judicial services,” summed up Luse at the end of the morning, next to the Faro hospital, the coordinator of the Union of Unions of the Algarve, Catarina Marques.
The trade union leader stressed that significant participation in the strike called by the United Front of Civil Service Unions affects the CGTU, and believes that this corresponds to a fair fight, since the proposals presented by the government for the state budget for 2024 “do not correspond to the problems of the workers.”
The document focuses on “low wage policies, complete wage deregulation” and also outlines “the continued reduction in investment in public services and social functions of the state,” said Catarina Marques.
Ana Simões, leader of the Union of Teachers of the Southern Zone, assured that in the Algarve “about 90% of schools do not have classrooms” and that “about a hundred” institutions are “completely closed”.
“There are no classes in kindergartens, 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle schools, as well as secondary schools. (…) We expected that participation in the strike would be large, and this was confirmed,” he noted.
In the health sector, Sonia Lopes, leader of the Portuguese Union of Nurses, assured reporters that the workers’ strike had “strong support” and that at the Faro hospital “services are completely paralyzed.”
In outpatient surgery, 11 elective surgeries were postponed “with 100% adherence”, inpatients also saw full compliance – they are not closed because minimal care is being provided – and in operating rooms there was “strong adherence”, with deferred surgeries set to be rescheduled.
The union leader also stressed the commitment to the strike at the basic emergency services in Lola and Albufeira, as well as at the Southern Center for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in São Bras de Alportel.
Rosa Franco, leader of the Union of Workers of Public and Social Functions of the South and Autonomous Regions, said that in the health sector, worker participation in the Algarve is around 80%, which affects operating rooms, external consultations, clinical tests and cultures.
“In the area of social security, the impact is also noticeable, especially in Portimão. Courts only work for services that are considered urgent, and in higher education there are several university services. [do Algarve] joining the strike. In general, the effect of the strike in the region can be seen,” he emphasized.
The General Front of Civil Service Trade Unions (CGTP) announced on October 9 a national strike by workers this Friday, deeming the government’s proposed wage increase for 2024 “pathetic.”
Next year, the minimum wage for public administration employees is planned to increase by 52 euros or 3%.
The common front demands a wage increase of at least 15%, a minimum of €150 per worker, to counter the “brutal rise in the cost of living”.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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