PORTUGAL: Portuguese public transports workers called for a 24 hours strike to protest against government efforts to downsize the sector, but some modes of transport continue to operate, creating only partial disruption

Record ID: 340630

  • Title: PORTUGAL: Portuguese public transports workers called for a 24 hours strike to protest against government efforts to downsize the sector, but some modes of transport continue to operate, creating only partial disruption
  • Date: 3rd February 2012
  • Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (FEBRUARY 2, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CAIS DO SODRE METRO STATION VARIOUS OF SIGN READING 'THE METRO IS CLOSED DUE TO STRIKE ACTION' (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FEDERATION OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS UNION REPRESENTATIVE, JOSE OLIVEIRA, SAYING "The public transport strike involves eight companies, of these we can say six have taken part, STCP, the
  • Embargoed: 18th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal, Portugal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA94ZFZ85PPX1HJK8196RV95QP5
  • Story Text: Portuguese public transport workers staged a 24 hour walkout at midnight to protest government plans to downsize the sector, but some modes of transport continued to operate on Thursday (February 2), bringing only partial disruption to the public.
    The underground stopped completely for 24 hours but trains, buses and trams continued to operate providing minimum services. Ferries have stopped for three hours in very shift.
    "The public transport strike involves eight companies, of these we can say six have taken part, STCP, the underground, SOFLUSA, TRANSTEJO and there are two below our expectations which are CARRIS and CP," Jose Oliveira of the Federation of Transport and Communications union said.
    Although some commuters experienced delays, most workers in Lisbon have been able to get to their destination.
    "I don't think it will affect me, I just had to get up earlier, there was one at 7:20 now there will be another one, I don't think it will take long," Rita, a lab technician said.
    Portugal's state transport companies have unsustainable debts equal to 10 percent of gross domestic product, or 17 billion euros, and the government is determined to restructure the firms, Economy Minister Alvaro Santos Pereira said on Wednesday.
    The debt of Portugal's public transport sector, including railways, bus, tram, underground and ferry boats, has been seen by some economists as a huge weak point that could force the country to seek more funding beyond its 78-billion-euro bailout.
    Public transport fares in Portugal went up by 5 percent on average starting on Wednesday.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register