The fourth day of partial strike by CP inspectors and workers caused the cancellation, between 00:00 and 19:00 this Sunday, of eight trains, most of them long-distance, according to the data sent by the carrier to Lusa.
According to CP — Comboios de Portugal, four long-distance trains (of 51 scheduled), two regional trains (197) and two urban trains from Porto (131) were suspended during this period, with all scheduled urban trains being carried out from Lisbon. (256) and Coimbra (21).
Of the total of 656 trains scheduled throughout the operation, 648 were executed and the eight suppressed correspond to 1.2%, the operator indicated.
CP ticket inspectors and ticket office workers began a strike on Thursday that will last until November 3, with the airline anticipating interruptions in operations, especially on October 31.
In a note published on its website, the company reported that, “due to a strike called by the SFRCI union [Sindicato Ferroviário da Revisão Comercial Itinerante] between October 24 [quinta-feira] and November 3”, interruptions in the operation are expected.
The railway company warned of the impact on the urban areas of Lisbon, especially on the Sintra, Azambuja and Sado lines.
CP foresees, from October 28 to 30, also due to the partial strike, interruptions in the Regional/Interregional, Coimbra Urbano and Porto Urbano services.
On October 31, when the closure will be total for 24 hours, impacts are expected in Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, Regional/Interregional, Urbanos and Internacional Celta.
According to a ruling on minimum services published on the website of the Economic and Social Council (CES) on the Internet, on October 31, with “the exception of long-distance trains, all trains will run on the urban lines of Lisbon and Porto, regional and interurban lines. -Autonomous, between 06:00 and 07:30 and between 18:30 and 20:00, in the exact terms provided before the presentation of the notice.
During the rest of the strike period, of partial closure, the court decreed only the minimum necessary services of security, maintenance, emergency services and the like.
“Occasional disturbances may occur in the remaining days,” in particular on Lisbon’s urban and intercity services between the Algarve and Lisbon, CP added.
According to a source at the SFRCI, which represents CP box office workers and conductors, these strikes are motivated by what they say is the “non-compliance with the agreement” signed in July of last year with the operator.
The protest “has to do with remuneration”, and, according to the union, the agreement foresees transferring a “transportation and availability subsidy bonus” to the base salary, something that would bring advantages to workers. The union wants a greater balance in terms of salaries for machinists.
Source: Observadora
