Lisbon's mayor, Carlos Moedas, has declared the metro workers' plenary 'unacceptable' after being notified just 24 hours in advance. In response, Carris buses will be free from 6 PM onwards.
Moedas expressed his frustration over the late notice, which prevented arranging minimum services, stating, 'It's inconceivable that the mayor is informed the night before at eight o'clock about a plenary that will halt all metro circulation.' The Lisbon Metro announced a suspension of services from 8 PM this Thursday due to the plenary, a move described as 'unprecedented and unusual.'
To mitigate the impact, Moedas has arranged for Carris buses to be free from 6 PM until 8 AM the next day. He also reached out to Carris Metropolitana for additional support, emphasizing the plenary's timing on the eve of Santo António, Lisbon's most important night, as politically motivated.
Despite the Carris's own 24-hour strike ending at midnight, operations continue with reduced staff. Moedas assured, 'Carris is functioning, and within Carris, we will provide this free service.' He criticized the plenary's timing, suggesting it could have been scheduled for Friday or Saturday, and accused the state-owned company of lacking institutional respect.
The plenary, set to proceed despite appeals for rescheduling, has been defended by union representatives. They argue it's neither unprecedented nor without cause, citing unresolved negotiation issues and past agreements not fully honored by the metro company.
Comments
Join Our Community
Sign up to share your thoughts, engage with others, and become part of our growing community.
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts and start the conversation!