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

The trade unions that organized the KP workers’ strike this Friday expressed regret this 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.

The government announced in a statement on Friday 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 Drivers (SMAQ).

In addition to this strike, more than 10 trade union structures also organized a strike, which took place on Friday and was attended by almost 100%.

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 either with the federation or with 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 emphasized in its statement that the parties had reached “an agreement on the rules of the career,” stressing that SMAQ intends to end the strike immediately.

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

The strike was joined by the Union of Middle-Level Railway Managers (ASCEF), the Independent Union of Commercial Railway Workers (ASSIFECO), the National Union of Transport, Communications and Public Works (FENTCOP), the National Union of Railway Workers’ Movements and Related Industries (SINAFE), the National Democratic Union of Railway Workers (Sindefer) and the Independent Union of Railway, Infrastructure and Related Industries 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, the company has fewer and fewer employees, 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.