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Negotiations at a snail's pace
Wednesday, 11 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Rosário Palma Ramalho is Portugal’s Minister of Labour, responsible for labour policy, workplace regulation and negotiations with trade unions. Her statements today about the CGTP withdrawing from labour reform talks matter because they affect negotiation dynamics and can influence strikes or demonstrations that may disrupt public services and workplaces.
The General Union of Workers (UGT – União Geral de Trabalhadores) is one of Portugal’s two main national trade union confederations. Founded in Lisbon on 28 October 1978, it was created as a social‑democratic alternative to the more communist‑aligned CGTP after the 1974 Revolution, grouping unions close to the Socialist Party and moderate centre‑right currents.
UGT represents around 400,000 workers and is affiliated to the European Trade Union Confederation and International Trade Union Confederation, giving Portuguese labour a voice at EU and global level. Its principles stress union independence from the state, employers, churches and parties, internal democracy and active worker participation.
Historically, UGT’s hallmark has been “propositive” social dialogue: it is usually more willing than CGTP to sign tripartite agreements on wages, labour law and social policy with governments and employers, shaping minimum wage increases, working‑time rules and social protection reforms. This makes UGT a key centrist actor in Portugal’s industrial relations, often mediating between left and right while defending collective bargaining and incremental improvements to labour rights.
AI Summary AvailableConfederations available to return to labour law negotiations, UGT says it never leftRead the synthesized summary with context and explainers
View full article on Correio da ManhãRSS source
Other news coverage of this topic
- Social partners and Government resume labour law negotiations1:30am, 11 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Seguro says he wants to look at the country as a whole and calls for an agreement on labour reform1:30am, 11 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Carneiro: whoever wants to talk to the UGT should ask them directly11:46pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Observador
- UGT: Prime Minister must say if the Government 'stays or goes'11:39pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Observador
- José Luís Carneiro says those who want to dialogue with the UGT should ask directly11:36pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- José Luís Carneiro says that those who want to dialogue with the UGT should ask them directly11:02pm, 10 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- Labour law: the agreement the Government needs11:02pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Público
- "It is up to the UGT to yield": Hugo Soares calls for "goodwill and an open mind" regarding the labour package10:48pm, 10 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- UGT remains available to negotiate labour law but: employers "are in a great hurry"10:45pm, 10 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Labour package. Mário Mourão says that if "there is any intransigence" it is not on the part of the UGT10:25pm, 10 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- Labour law. Mário Mourão says that if "there is any intransigence" it is not on the part of the UGT10:25pm, 10 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- PS asks the Government to suspend the State's exit from the António Sérgio Cooperative9:49pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Público
- Confederations willing to continue labour law negotiations, UGT says it never left9:26pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Expresso
- Seguro revives negotiations for a labour agreement9:08pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Dinheiro Vivo
- Time bank, outsourcing, and fixed-term contracts hinder UGT in labour agreement8:58pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Público
- President called for a "balanced agreement". Partners available to resume negotiations8:58pm, 10 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- Labour laws: will Seguro's appeal fall on deaf ears?8:26pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Público
- Confederations available to return to labour law negotiations, UGT says it never left8:03pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
