CP – Comboios de Portugal has warned of the possibility of “short-term disruptions to traffic” due to a strike planned by two unions between 9 and 31 August, with particular impact on 15 August.
“We inform you that, due to a strike called by the Sinfb unions [Sindicato Independente Nacional dos Ferroviários] and Stmefe [Sindicato dos Trabalhadores do Metro e Ferroviários]between August 9 and August 31, 2024, Occasional circulation disturbances are expected, which could become more pronounced on August 15.“, reads a notice on the carrier’s website.
CP reached an agreement last month with 11 unions, calling off a strike planned for that date, but the two union structures do not agree with what was presented.
Speaking to Lusa, António Pereira, from Sinfb, said that the agreement signed by the remaining unions “was practically [igual ao] presented two days before,” he said, indicating that if they had not agreed before, they were not going to do so on that date either.
“We are fighting to expand the races. The company wants to give us more work for the same money and we do not accept that at all,” he said.
The strike affects overtime hours worked between August 9 and 31, with the exception of August 15, which will last 24 hours and affect work in CP’s workshops, he explained.
According to the unionist, the The stoppage “will endanger trains because maintenance work will no longer be carried out.”
A strike by CP workers at the end of July was called off after an agreement in principle was reached on wage increases and career regulation, a union source said.
“Under the terms of the agreement, all wage rates are updated by an additional 1.5% as of August 1, 2024, and the value of the food allowance increases to 9.20 euros,” reads a statement published by the Federation of Transport and Communications Trade Unions (Fectrans), on July 23.
In turn, CP reported in a note that after a meeting with representatives of several unions (ASCEF, ASSIFECO, FENTCOP, SINAFE, SINDEFER, SINFA, SINTTI, SIOFA, SNAQ, SNTSF and STF) an agreement was reached.
The operator had also already signed an agreement with the Portuguese National Union of Railway Drivers (SMAQ) and the Railway Union of Travelling Commercial Magazine (SFRCI).
Source: Observadora
