Train drivers announce more strikes for April

The union cites “disregard” for the workers and the difficulties they are going through in these times of galloping inflation

The National Union of Train Drivers of Portuguese Railways (SMAQ) announced another strike during the “whole month of April”, due to the “autistic attitude and disregard” of train operator CP.

The SMAQ says “neither the ministry nor CP have taken the necessary steps to resolve the ongoing labour conflict, in an autistic attitude and disregard for the workers and the difficulties that they and their families are going through in these times of galloping inflation“.

According to SMAQ, “even issues that need urgent resolution and that depend exclusively on CP are not solved”.

Workers with the categories of driver or technical machinist will be on strike from April 1 to 30 for all normal daily work periods with an expected duration of more than seven-and-a-half hours, or that imply entries and/or exits at the head office between 00:30 and 06:00.

In turn, from April 17 to 21, workers with the categories of traction inspector or chief traction inspector will be on strike for all normal work periods scheduled to last over six hours.

Also under the terms of the statement issued, during the entire month of April, all workers of the categories represented by SMAQ will be on strike for the entire period of service whenever they are assigned a normal daily work period whose schedule is not on the roster in force on the date the strike begins.

Finally, between April 16 and 22, workers of the categories represented by SMAQ will be on strike “for all overtime work, including work on weekly rest days“.

Among the workers’ demands are “effective salary increases”, the “valuation of the traction career”, and the improvement of working conditions in the driver’s cabins and social facilities and of safety conditions on the lines and in the engine rooms.

In February and March, strikes called by several CP unions led to the cancellation of hundreds of trains per day.

Source: Lusa

Portugal Resident