PORTUGAL: Labour minister says a nationwide general strike has had very little impact on the country

Record ID: 338654

  • Title: PORTUGAL: Labour minister says a nationwide general strike has had very little impact on the country
  • Date: 25th November 2010
  • Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (NOVEMBER 24, 2010) (REUTERS) LABOUR MINISTER HELENA ANDRE ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM CAMERA FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) HELENA ANDRE, LABOUR MINISTER, SAYING: "The workers who joined this strike are exercising their right, which is granted by the constitution, but that does not mean that Portugal is paralysed and I think we can say that this
  • Embargoed: 10th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAL8JSQ547U4ACOUP7UKDPTL4U
  • Story Text: Portugal's labour minister said on Wednesday (November 24) that a one-day general strike called by the country's two main unions, had had little impact on everyday life.
    As the country's two biggest unions stopped trains and buses, grounded planes and halted services from healthcare to banking, the head of the UGT umbrella union said the action was the largest stoppage the country had ever seen.
    However, Labour Minister Helena Andre denied there had been much of an impact.
    "The workers who joined this strike are exercising their right, which is granted by the constitution, but that does not mean that Portugal is paralysed and I think we can say that this strike has been a peaceful strike," she told a news conference in Lisbon.
    Lisbon was relatively quiet as many workers were prevented from going to work but roads in around the capital were choked with heavy traffic as commuters opted to use their cars. Cafes and shops were open and vans delivered goods as usual.
    Portugal's unions are hoping to weaken government's resolve in implementing austerity measures designed to shield the country from euro zone contagion.
    Striking workers said they felt they would be the ones to bear the brunt of the government's austerity measures.
    "We are against the pay cuts ordered by the government, in order to save the banks. The expenses of the government increased exponentially and now they are asking the working force to pay for these cuts," said Paulo Mendes.
    Prime Minister Jose Socrates, whose government is struggling to quash speculation that Portugal will be next in line for a bailout, has pledged to stay the course on wage cuts and tax hikes to cut the budget deficit.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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