No trains running as strike seems to be 100%

Train traffic is at a standstill across Portugal on Wednesday, according to the Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (FECTRANS), which points to a 100% strike by CP workers called by several unions.

“Rail traffic is suspended throughout the country. Therefore, this shows that there has been practically total adherence by workers since midnight,” José Manuel Oliveira, from FECTRANS, told Lusa, emphasising that despite the work done between management and unions, “CP is operating with fewer workers than it needs”.

The trade unionist explained that “work was done that was agreed by management and all the unions” and that, during the implementation phase, “some problems arose regarding the costs being able to be borne by CP’s budget.”

“We made some effort to accept some changes that would allow the implementation of these measures to be supported by CP’s budget and not have to resort to the State Budget, and we reached an agreement on 24 April”, he explained, regretting that a few days later the chairman of CP came to inform us that he couldn’t implement the agreement “because the government wouldn’t give the go-ahead”.

He added: “The central issue is that the government gave CP all the support it needed to make these proposals and, of the two, either it was in bad faith, or else the respective minister didn’t even know that he was in charge and couldn’t give that authorisation.”

“What we understand is that the argument that they’re in management and that they can’t ended up falling apart when the minister himself, after a first meeting with the Secretary of State and saying that they can’t, came to say that after all, they looked at the law and [realised that] the law has a trap door and they can even authorise the application of part of the agreement”, said the union official, adding that what is on the table is to give the workers a guarantee that, “when the government leaves, they will continue to have the right to the other parts of the agreement, which will be implemented over this year.”

The strike, which lasts until 14 May, will have a special impact on today and Thursday due to the greater number of unions (14) joining the strike on these days.

The strike between today and Thursday was called by the Trade Union Association of Intermediate Railway Managers (ASCEF), the Independent Trade Union Association of Commercial Railwaymen (ASSIFECO), the Federation of Transport and Communications Trade Unions (FECTRANS), the National Trade Union of Transport, Communications and Public Works (FENTCOP), the National Trade Union of Railwaymen of the Movement and Similar (SINAFE), the National Democratic Railway Union (SINDEFER), the Independent Union of Infrastructure and Related Railway Workers (SINFA), the National Independent Union of Railway Workers (SINFB), the National Union of Transport and Industry Workers (SINTTI), the Independent Union of Railway and Related Operators (SIOFA), the National Union of Technical Staff (SNAQ), the National Union of Railway Workers (SNTSF), the Railway Transport Union (STF) and the Metro and Railway Workers Union (STMEFE).

This strike is joined today and Thursday by the one called by the Train Drivers’ Union (SMAQ) and, between 7 and 14 May, by the Ticket Inspectors’ Union (SFRCI).

By the Arbitration Court’s decision, the strikes do not have minimum services.

However, the services necessary for the safety and maintenance of equipment and installations, emergency services, rescue trains and all trains that have started their journey must be taken to their destination.

Contacted by Lusa, a CP source confirmed that no trains are running, information that the company is expected to update by mid-morning.