- Title: PORTUGAL: Portuguese workers stage general strike
- Date: 14th November 2012
- Summary: PEOPLE WAITING IN THE AIRPORT GIRL SLEEPING PEOPLE WAITING IN THE AIRPORT
- Embargoed: 29th November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Portugal
- Country: Portugal
- Topics: Economy,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA8PIGDK3T12P0I1GMFSMNYWF9O
- Story Text: Portugal's largest union joins Spain and Greece and holds a general strike, protesting against the government's austerity measures.
A general strike by workers across Portugal began early on Wednesday (November 13), with strike pickets in front of the capital's public transport headquarters and Lisbon airport.
Manuel Leal, head union leader from CARRIS, Portugal's public bus company, was in front of their headquarters and said he was convinced that he and his colleagues would make a difference with help of other striking workers in Spain and elsewhere.
"We are here today and striking because we have been stolen permanently in the last ten years and it only will get worst with the 2013 budget. This has to change", Leal said.
According to Portuguese media, half of the flights scheduled to take off for Wednesday were cancelled by Portuguese national carrier TAP.
Martin, a visitor from Norway, didn't seem very concerned to have lost his flight.
"It's good to strike when you have problems. And Portugal has problems," he said while waiting to have his flight home rescheduled.
Portugal's labour union CGTP had called for a general strike on Wednesday, the second general strike in the last 8 months, against declining living conditions and the austerity measures imposed.
Shipyard workers too set up pickets and tried to prevent employees from going on shift as part of the nationwide strike.
Portugal's largest union organised the strike against policies that they say have hiked unemployment and plunged the country deep into recession.
Workers from the Lisnave shipyard gathered by its entrance in Setubal, around 40 kilometres outside of Lisbon, on a chilly morning to protest against what they say are harsh austerity measures.
They were joined by CGTP trade union leader Armenio Carlos who said he expected the strike to be one of the biggest Portugal has ever seen.
"We are witnessing the biggest strike Portugal has ever seen. It also has a special significance because it is the first time that Spanish and Portuguese workers are conducting an Iberian strike on the very same day," he said, referring to a general strike also taking place in Spain on Wednesday.
Amongst the picketers was Sandra Sousa, who along with her husband, is unemployed. They have one child to care for. She said it was becoming ever harder to make ends meet.
"Everything is very chaotic and there are already a lot of people who do not have enough money to eat. We all have to unite to fight for a better country, which is our country."
The Portuguese showed a remarkably high level of acceptance for cost cutting after Lisbon took an international bailout in 2011, but that mood has changed dramatically recently and support for the centre-right government is crumbling. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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