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Dozens of people demonstrated outside the Ministry of Labour in Lisbon
They tried to enter the meeting between employers and the Minister of Labour, but this time no one wanted anything to do with the CGTP. Also, the rules of justice that are driving the three parties apart.
Tiago Oliveira, Secretary-General of the CGTP, questions why the Government “has not abandoned its central axis in over 100 proposals” during labour law negotiations.
The CGTP trade union gathered at the Ministry of Labour at 3:00 PM despite not receiving an official invitation for a meeting.
The secretary-general of the PCP argued today that the labour package 'was rejected and must be defeated once and for all' and considered that the CGTP 'is right' to go to the ministry to 'demand on behalf of the workers'.
The article reports that the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) is justified in advocating for workers' rights by visiting the Ministry of Labour, especially as the government’s proposed labor reforms have been widely rejected by protests, strikes, and public demonstrations. The Secretary-General of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Paulo Raimundo, supports this stance, criticizing the government for excluding CGTP from negotiations and accusing it of favoritism towards employers, increasing precariousness, and weakening workers' protections. Raimundo emphasizes the need for stronger labor rights, higher wages, and better living conditions, condemning the government’s approach as cowardly and urging for firm action to improve workers’ lives.
Tiago Oliveira wants to include the country's “largest trade union centre” in the meeting regarding the labour package this Monday. He advocates for a discussion on “the proposals of those who work” rather than “those of the people who order others to work”.
The trade union federation intends to reaffirm its proposals and contests the attempt to exclude it from the meeting on labour law, considering it a violation of the constitutional right to participation. The Government has been negotiating the 'Trabalho XXI' package, which includes over 100 amendments to the Labour Code, with the UGT and employers.
A CGTP delegation will travel to the Ministry of Labour on Monday, at the scheduled time of the meeting between the Government, UGT, and the four business confederations, to 'reaffirm proposals and solutions for labour legislation'. A CGTP-IN delegation will present itself at the Ministry of Labour next Monday at 15:00 to reaffirm its proposals and solutions.
José Luís Carneiro considers the Prime Minister's words offensive, as he compared the CGTP to Chega.
After the Prime Minister compared the CGTP to Chega, which also asked the Government to scrap the current proposal for the revision of labour law and start from scratch, the union leader downplayed the comparison. Despite not having been invited, the CGTP says it wants to be part of the Government's meetings on labour reform.
CGTP further states that in the meeting it 'intends to present its critical assessment of the current situation and warn about the Government's disregard for constitutional rights'.
More than a hundred people demonstrated this Friday in downtown Lisbon, in a protest organised by CGTP, to demand equality between men and women and to oppose a labour package they believe will worsen women's working conditions. “The equality that April opened, reinforcing rights, fulfilling the constitution” was read on the banner leading the march from Largo de Camões towards the parliament. Other messages on participants' placards included “Labour package = labour regression” and “Labour Package is a Constitutional Danger”, with chants advocating for equal rights, wages, labour rights, public health and education, and peace. Cristina Calado, 64, told Lusa that she has participated in various struggles throughout her life and attended this protest because equality between men and women “is a goal still to be achieved”, although she stated she has never felt discriminated against at work for being a woman. When asked if she believes there are risks of regression in already achieved rights, she said it would only happen if women “allow it”. Nuno Matos noted that in the banking sector, it is still common for women in equal leadership positions to earn less than men in the same roles. He added that women are penalised in evaluations and bonuses when they have children. “Equal pay is urgent in Portugal,” was one of the slogans heard during the march, where many demonstrators carried red carnations. This protest is organised by the Commission for Equality between Women and Men of CGTP-IN. Fátima Messias, coordinator of this commission, told Lusa that although equality is enshrined in the Constitution, it is often undermined by the laws themselves. She explained that when labour legislation contradicts constitutional principles, it undermines the right to secure employment. The CGTP's general secretary, Tiago Oliveira, stated that the struggle of working women is central to achieving equality and described the government's proposed labour package as a significant attack on women, as they are more susceptible to precariousness and low wages. The CGTP is holding a week of equality from March 2 to 8 under the slogan “The Equality that April Opened. Reinforcing Rights. Fulfilling the Constitution”, with initiatives across the country. International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8.
After a day dominated by Cotrim, the campaign continues today with further visits to fairs and markets and with expectations that new polls will be published.
The presidential candidates are drawing closer to Lisbon today, where Catarina Martins and António Filipe take part in a CGTP demonstration, with Coimbra also prominent on the schedules for the 10th day of campaigning.
Catarina Martins, a presidential candidate backed by the Left Bloc (BE), and António Filipe, backed by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), will attend the CGTP demonstration.
The Prime Minister's meeting with the CGTP was postponed again and is now scheduled for 20 January, an official source from the trade union centre told Lusa today.
The general strike on December 11 is starting to have impacts this Wednesday, with transport services being affected throughout the day and night, ahead of the strike called by CGTP and UGT. The strike makes it unpredictable which schedules will be adhered to, although several are still guaranteed by minimum services.