Metro Sul do Tejo workers on strike on October 19 and 20

The workers of Metro Transportes do Sul will be on strike on October 19 and 20 to demand the opening of negotiations, salary increases, career progression and better equipment maintenance.

Metro Transportes do Sul (MTS) is the company that operates the public transportation system provided through the so-called surface light rail in the municipalities of Almada and Seixal, in the district of Setúbal, with expansion planned for the neighboring municipalities of Barreiro and Moita , but not yet realized.

The first section was inaugurated in 2007 and the current network has been operational since the end of 2008.

The strike, called by the Machinists Union (SMAQ), also provides that, between 00:00 hours on October 18 and 24:00 hours on the 21st, the drivers will strike for overtime, including work on weekly rest days and all duration services. more than eight hours.

Between 00:00 hours on October 19 and 24:00 hours on the 20th, the workers will be on strike to be able to give any job.

In a statement, the Machinists’ Union explains that the strike arises “due to the persistent refusal of the MTS administration to negotiate with SMAQ a company agreement that responds to the fair demands of the workers.”

The union structure also adds that it carried out the entire legal process to convince the company to negotiate a Company Agreement, having knowingly sent a proposal to the ministries involved and to the General Directorate of Employment and Labor Relations (DGERT).

However, says the Machinists’ Union, “given MTS’s refusal to negotiate, the General Directorate of Employment and Labor Relations (DGERT) was asked to moderate the conciliation process, which MTS also rejected.”

According to the union, the DGERT mediator presented the parties with a proposal for a Company Agreement, which SMAQ agreed to negotiate, but the company rejected it.

“Given this scenario, and having exhausted all the possibilities of dialogue with the company, the MTS workers represented by SMAQ will resort to strike,” explains the union.