- Title: PORTUGAL-METRO STRIKE Lisbon metro workers strike for 8th time, commuters weary
- Date: 22nd December 2014
- Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (DECEMBER 22, 2014) (REUTERS) SUNRISE ON RIVER FRONT PEOPLE WALKING TO WORK METRO LOGO REFLECTED ON A BUS WINDOW BUS LEAVING MAN READING SIGN (Portuguese): "METRO CLOSED DUE TO STRIKE" SIGN READING (Portuguese): "METRO CLOSED DUE TO STRIKE, WE ARE SORRY FOR THE DISTURBANCE" PEOPLE WALKING PAST CLOSED METRO STATION CLOSED STATION/ PEOPLE WALKING TOWARDS BUS STOP (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) COMMUTER, TERESA, SAYING: "It doesn't affect the ones in charge unfortunately it affect the people that need it every day, strike is a normal right, but it's the working people who are hurt by the strike. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) COMMUTER, DALILA MOURA, SAYING: "How it affects my day, the beginning of my day? At this time I would be already at Baixa Chiado station changing to the other line and at 0830 hours; I would be arriving at my work probably I would be there at 0900 hours. In the evening it will be a bit worse than it usually is." PEOPLE QUEUING AT TRAM STOP PEOPLE ENTERING TRAM TRAM MOVING AWAY VARIOUS OF STREETS WITH LOW TRAFFIC
- Embargoed: 6th January 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Portugal
- Country: Portugal
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA583JTTY0I6I9PQTNMS7UF7Q77
- Story Text: Metro stops in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, on Monday (December 22) were closed for the eighth time this year, as workers yet again walked out in protest against the lack of dialogue with their employers over better working conditions.
Commuters are frustrated they are the ones that end up suffering most.
"It doesn't affect the ones in charge, unfortunately it affect the people that need it every day, strike is a normal right, but it's the working people who are hurt by the strike," said Teresa who was trying to find an alternative way of getting to work.
Another commuter, Dalila Moura, said the strikes delay her arrival at work and it is even worse trying to get home at the end of the day.
"How it affects my day, the beginning of my day? At this time I would be already at Baixa Chiado station changing to the other line and at 0830 hours; I would be arriving at my work probably I would be there at 0900 hours. In the evening it will be a bit worse than it usually is," she said.
With many people already on holiday and schools out for the seasonal break, traffic during the early hours in Lisbon was not affected heavily by the strike, which was due to last for 24 hours.
Bus company Carris put on more buses in an effort to minimize the effects of the strike for commuters.
The Lisbon Metro workers are protesting at government privatisation plans for the service.
Portugal exited a three-year 78-billion-euro (95 billion U.S. dollars approx.) bailout in May this year with the country returning to growth after years of painful austerity and unpopular reforms. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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