According to the carrier, a strike by Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) workers led to the suspension of 140 trains out of 252 planned by CP (55.6%) on Tuesday from 00:00 to 08:00.
Workers at Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) are holding the first of two strikes on Tuesday, with minimum services set.
The Lisbon urban service had 73 of its planned 113 removed, while the intercity service had 13 planned and eight removed.
In a note sent to Lusa about the impact of this strike on KP, the company states that out of 252 scheduled trains, 112 took place.
Speaking to Lusa on Tuesday morning, Adriano Filipe, president of Aprofer – Associação Sindical dos Profissionais do Comando e Controlo Viário, said that at 08:00 the minimum services were already being carried out.
As explained by Adriano Filipe Luse, the strike, covering workers in intellectual property, command, control, information, traffic control and railway maintenance, is related to working conditions and wages in this profession.
“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.