PORTUGAL: Commuters are stranded on New Year's day as train drivers strike

Record ID: 340606

  • Title: PORTUGAL: Commuters are stranded on New Year's day as train drivers strike
  • Date: 2nd January 2012
  • Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (JANUARY 01, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SANTA APOLONIA TRAIN STATION VARIOUS OF BOARDS SHOWING CANCELLED TRAINS TRAIN PARKED ON TRACK (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) TRAIN COMMUTER, ALCINO, SAYING: "The government should take necessary measures to provide transport facilities to people and I think that with these policies, things won't be better. Workers hav
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal, Portugal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVASMXO5JPQC9GE1OQXD5MH3ISN
  • Story Text: Portugal's train drivers began 2012 with a walkout on Sunday (January 01).
    Trains remained cancelled on the last day of the four-day strike to protest against what the union calls illegal disciplinary proceedings against workers.
    According to Trains of Portugal (CP), which is partly owned by the state, the procedures are related mostly to non-compliance with minimum service during the previous strike on November 24th, 2010.
    CP said in a statement on the company website that it plans to run minimum services over the strike period.
    Despite the inconvenience, some commuters agreed with the strike action.
    "The government should take necessary measures to provide transport facilities to people and I think that with these policies, things won't be better. Workers have the right to strike. It's a civil rights fight," said Alcino.
    But others were upset.
    "I don't agree (with this strike). We pay a monthly fee for transport, I think it's wrong to leave people here waiting for so long when they pay so much money every month," said Almerinda Antao.
    CP also expects some disruptions on January 2 of long-distance services as well as regional and urban trains in Lisbon and Porto at the beginning of the day.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register