Workers at Volkswagen Autoeuropa’s car plant in Palmela are starting two days of partial shutdowns this Wednesday due to emergency wage increases, despite a call from the Works Commission to withdraw strike notices.
On Tuesday, in view of the readiness announced by the plant management in the meantime to return to the negotiating table on November 25, the Working Commission (CT) asked the trade unions SITE-Sul, the trade union of workers in the transforming industries, energy and activities Ambiente do Sul and STASA – the trade union of workers in the automotive sector – to withdraw the notifications about the strike.
Unions have refused to withdraw strike notices, and SITE-Sul leader Eduardo Florindo says there is “a lot of discontent” among workers and believes “the strike will get good support.”
Autoeuropa’s CT coordinator Rogerio Nogueira made no predictions about joining the strike, but said the plant’s willingness to resume dialogue “is a sign that the company is interested in reaching an agreement with the workers.”
Autoeuropa workers are demanding an emergency 5% pay rise in December to offset the loss of purchasing power due to inflation, but the company decided to award a single bonus of 400 euros, prompting the workers to decide to go on strike in plenary. meetings held last week.
The strike, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, is the second stop due to worker problems in three decades at the Volkswagen car plant in Palmela, Setúbal district.
The first strike at Autoeuropa – other than those that occurred in the context of national general strikes – took place on August 30, 2017, when workers held a one-day shutdown in defiance of an obligation to work on Saturdays, forcing all production.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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