En el último 24 de noviembre una nueva huelga general tuvo lugar en Portugal, exactamente un año después de la última. Esta fue la séptima huelga general en Portugal en 37 años y la tercera convocada conjuntamente por ambos los sindicatos mayoritarios CGTP y UGT.
Desde la última huelga general la situación de los trabajadores en Portugal se ha agravado. Tras el rescate del Fondo Monetario Internacional / Unión Europea en mayo, se han adoptado una serie de medidas de austeridad presentadas como la única manera de reducir el déficit del Estado y "hacer la economía portuguesa más competitiva". Los trabajadores ya han sido golpeados con aumentos de impuestos sobre consumo, incrementos de hasta 25% en las tarifas de los transportes públicos y recortes en los servicios sociales y de salud. Los trabajadores del sector público verán su salario reducido por medio de un impuesto extraordinario en 2011 y 2012. Nuevas medidas duras que constituyen un ataque histórico contra los derechos de los trabajadores están siendo presentadas por el gobierno, como la reducción de las indemnizaciones por despido, la extensión de la jornada de trabajo en 30 minutos diarios sin pago extra, la extinción de algunos días de fiesta o la dilatación de la posibilidad de renovación de los contratos a plazo. El desempleo ha aumentado en los últimos años afectando ahora 13% de los trabajadores segundo las cifras oficiales que no reflejan la tasa de desempleo real. Las previsiones para la economía de Portugal predicen la más fuerte recesión de la zona euro en 2013 y un aumento del desempleo debido a las medidas de austeridad.
Esta huelga fue fuerte en los transportes públicos y afectó a la actividad de las escuelas, los hospitales y la recolección de basura. La actividad de los aeropuertos también se redujo. Algunas grandes fábricas, como Volkswagen / Autoeuropa también detuvieron su producción. Sin embargo, en el sector de comercio y servicios privados, donde hay una alta concentración de trabajadores precarios y con bajos salarios, la huelga pasó casi desapercibida. El temor a represalias de los patrones sigue obstruyendo la movilización de estos trabajadores y sólo la ausencia de transportes públicos produce una excusa para la participación en la huelga.
15/12/11
Portugal: About the austerity measures and the last general strike
On the last 24th November a new general strike took place in Portugal, exactly one year after the last one. This was seventh general strike in Portugal in 37 years and the third convoked by the two main labor unions CGTP and UGT.
Since the last general strike the situation of workers in Portugal has aggravated. Following the International Monetary Fund/European Union bail-out in May, a series of austerity measures presented as the only way to reduce the state deficit and to “make the Portuguese economy more competitive” have been adopted. Workers have already been hit with increases in sales taxes, up to 25% increases in public transports fares and cuts in social and health services. Workers of the public sector will see their salary reduced by means of an extraordinary tax in 2011 and 2012. New harsh measures that constitute an historic attack on the rights of workers are being presented by the government, like reductions in compensations for firing workers, extension of the work day by 30 minutes without extra pay, extinction of some holidays, or the extension of the renewal period for short-term contracts. Unemployment has been rising in the last years reaching now 13% of workers according to official numbers that hardly reflect the real unemployment. The economy forecasts for Portugal predict the strongest recession on the euro zone in 2013 and a rise in unemployment due to the austerity measures.
This strike was strong on the public transports sector and affected the activity of schools, hospitals and garbage collection. The activity of airports was also reduced. Some big factories like Volkswagen/Autoeuropa also stopped production due to the strike. But on the retail and private services sector, where there is a high concentration of precarious and poorly paid workers, the strike went almost unnoticed. Fear of retaliations by the bosses continues to obstruct the mobilization of these workers and only the absence of public transports makes an excuse for participation on the strike.
Since the last general strike the situation of workers in Portugal has aggravated. Following the International Monetary Fund/European Union bail-out in May, a series of austerity measures presented as the only way to reduce the state deficit and to “make the Portuguese economy more competitive” have been adopted. Workers have already been hit with increases in sales taxes, up to 25% increases in public transports fares and cuts in social and health services. Workers of the public sector will see their salary reduced by means of an extraordinary tax in 2011 and 2012. New harsh measures that constitute an historic attack on the rights of workers are being presented by the government, like reductions in compensations for firing workers, extension of the work day by 30 minutes without extra pay, extinction of some holidays, or the extension of the renewal period for short-term contracts. Unemployment has been rising in the last years reaching now 13% of workers according to official numbers that hardly reflect the real unemployment. The economy forecasts for Portugal predict the strongest recession on the euro zone in 2013 and a rise in unemployment due to the austerity measures.
This strike was strong on the public transports sector and affected the activity of schools, hospitals and garbage collection. The activity of airports was also reduced. Some big factories like Volkswagen/Autoeuropa also stopped production due to the strike. But on the retail and private services sector, where there is a high concentration of precarious and poorly paid workers, the strike went almost unnoticed. Fear of retaliations by the bosses continues to obstruct the mobilization of these workers and only the absence of public transports makes an excuse for participation on the strike.
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