Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee Correspondent
More than 350,000 public administration workers of Portugal went on strike on 2 October for their demands. Thousands of demonstrators marched to the Finance Ministry in Lisbon, capital of Portugal, where union representatives delivered a resolution with workers’ demands.
Workers’ main demand is a 15 percent pay increase for all public sector workers, with a minimum raise of 150 euros per month, as well as the immediate revision of general career structures.
The strike was called by the National Federation of Public and Social Service Workers’ Unions (FNSTFPS), the National Union of Local and Regional Administration Workers, Public Companies, Concessionaires and Related Entities (STAL) and the Lisbon Municipal Workers’ Union (STML), covering operational assistants, technical assistants and senior technicians.
A union leader said, “The government pretends to negotiate, but it does not negotiate anything”.
The strike led to closure of most of the schools and disruption to social security services, the justice system, rubbish collection and health services.