PORTUGAL: Portugal braces itself for the fourth general strike in two years

Record ID: 341167

  • Title: PORTUGAL: Portugal braces itself for the fourth general strike in two years
  • Date: 27th June 2013
  • Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (JUNE 26, 2013) (REUTERS) ====== NIGHT SHOTS ====== VARIOUS OF RUBBISH TRUCKS PARKED IN DEPOT VARIOUS OF LABOUR UNION PICKET OUTSIDE RUBBISH COLLECTION DEPOT CGTP UNION LEADER ARMENIO CARLOS ARRIVING AND GREETING RUBBISH COLLECTORS ON STRIKE PICKETERS HOLDING BANNER READING "IN DEFENCE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE STATE" (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) ARMENIO CARL
  • Embargoed: 12th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4QLH74ZYPJT9R71MHXXN6H757
  • Story Text: Portugal braced for its fourth general strike in two years as public service workers began staging walkouts on Wednesday (June 26) evening ahead of Thursday's (June 27) stoppage which threatens to bring the country to a standstill.
    While unlikely to be economically-crippling or violent, the planned strike and protests should send a loud reminder to the administration that the population blames an economic slump and record unemployment on its spending cuts and tax hikes.
    "People should not be afraid to fight to defend their rights, to fight to defend their jobs, to fight for their salaries, to fight for better conditions for their children. We are at a point where we either come together to defend our rights, the rights of the future generations, of our children, or we will be accomplices of giving a worst future to our children. I don't think there is anyone in this country, in any country, that wants a worst future for their children," CGTP leader Armenio Carlos said as he addressed rubbish collection workers in Lisbon.
    On Wednesday night metro services stopped earlier than usual at 23:20, and rubbish truck depots were parked with little indication they were going to move.
    State-owned airline TAP has warned of possible disruption but not cancelled any flights.
    It will be the second time the two largest labour unions, with over 1 million members between then, have held a joint general strike against the government, which came to power right after Lisbon resorted to an international bailout in mid-2011.
    Analysts expect the one-day stoppage to close many public services, halt trains and the Lisbon metro and halve bus services in the capital, but involve little participation by the private sector or major utilities.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register