This Tuesday, workers at Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) are holding the first of two alternating strikes that are expected to cause “significant disruption” to train services across the country, CP – Comboios de Portugal reported.
The strike, covering workers in intellectual property, command, control, information, traffic control and maintenance of the railways, is related to the working conditions and wages of this profession, as explained to Luse Adriano Filipe, president of Aprofer – the Union of Railway Associations. Command and control specialists.
“The reasons for this strike are the same” as the strike scheduled for September 2022, he recalled, pointing out that IP had committed to negotiating an agreement, but that has not happened since then.
“The agreement provided for the completion of negotiations and social peace commitments by December 31, 2023, but due to non-compliance with the IP, we have decided to go on strike from the beginning of January and will remain on strike until an agreement is reached. whether an agreement or a change in position will continue,” he said.
These workers, essentially distributed among the Operational Command Centers (OCCs) that control the entire functioning of the railways at the national level, are demanding regularization of their profession.
“For 17 years, new jobs have needed to streamline the work, and that is why we are still working according to the principle of the old CPU,” he pointed out, emphasizing that the work is “in a high-tech position, concentrating all turnover and service.” the whole country.”
“We are demanding a difference in pay compared to what the stations pay,” he pointed out, emphasizing that these approximately 300 workers have “the same pay scale as the station workers.”
“The fact that a worker is at the station carries with it a very local responsibility. We have a national responsibility,” he noted, pointing out that the “degree of concentration” is very high when workers have to manage maneuvers, movements, accidents, breakdowns, among other tasks.
The strike could also affect train services on Wednesday and Friday, CP explained in a note published on its website.
During the strike days, a minimum volume of services is guaranteed: regional, interregional and international Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains, Porto city trains, Coimbra city trains and Lisbon city trains are expected to operate.
All information about minimum guaranteed train services can be found on the CP website.
CP also states that for customers who have already purchased tickets for Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, International, InterRegional and Regional flights, the railway transport company will refund the full cost of the ticket or exchange it free of charge for another train in the same category and class.
Refunds or exchanges can be made on the myCP platform in the “Your tickets” section (for tickets purchased online and in the CP app) no later than 15 minutes before the train departs from the client’s base station, or at any ticket office.
After this period and up to 10 days after the end of the strike, a refund can be requested by filling out the online form in the Delay or Suppression Refund section, including scanning the original ticket, CP concludes. , on the same note.