CP Workers' Strike Ends: Government Accused of Inaction and Broken Promises

CP Workers' Strike Concludes with Government Under Fire

The final day of strikes by CP-Comboios de Portugal's ticket inspectors and office workers has passed, marking the end of a partial work stoppage. Simultaneously, the train drivers' overtime strike also concluded. Union leaders have renewed accusations against the Portuguese government for failing to meet its commitments.

Impact on Services

During the strike's last day, 59 out of 250 scheduled trains were canceled between midnight and 8 AM, predominantly affecting regional services. Specifically:

• 31 out of 67 regional trains were canceled.
• 7 out of 13 long-distance trains did not operate.
• Urban services in Lisbon ran as planned, while 17 out of 52 trains in Porto were canceled.

Union Accusations

Luís Bravo, president of the CP Ticket Inspectors' Union, criticized the government's inaction, stating, "The government did not act because it did not want to." He highlighted agreements signed in other sectors, such as security and healthcare, questioning why similar commitments to CP workers remain unfulfilled.

António Barata Domingos, head of the Train Drivers' Union, accused the government of undermining CP's management and reneging on agreements. He emphasized that the strike aimed to expose the government's failure to honor its promises, despite prior consensus and budget allocations.

Political Motivations?

Bravo suggested political motives behind the government's stance, linking it to election campaign strategies and potential privatization plans for CP, a profitable state-owned company.

Government's Response

The unions reported no engagement from the government despite early strike notices, with meetings only occurring as the strike commenced. This lack of dialogue has fueled further discontent among workers.