The secretary general of the CGTP accused the Government this Monday (16) of a “democratic attack” by “removing” the center from the discussion on changes to the labor law, saying that the process is “mined by disrespect” and promising that the fight will continue.
“What is happening is an authentic democratic attack”, said the secretary general of the CGTPspeaking to journalists, after being received by the chief of staff of the Minister of Labor, Rosário Palma Ramalho, and an advisor to the Secretary of State for Labor, Adriano Rafael Moreira, at the Ministry of Labor in Lisbon, but not having participated in the meeting between the Government, UGT and ‘bosses’.
“Today it was demonstrated who has been keeping the CGTP away” throughout the negotiation process on the labor law, said Tiago Oliveira, reiterating that it is not the trade union central “that is putting itself on the sidelines”, but rather “being removed from this entire process”.
Asked about the justification given by the Government for CGTP to participate in the meeting that is taking place with the other social partners, the secretary general indicated that the answer given to him is that “the minister invites whoever she wants”.
According to an official source from the Ministry of Labor, the Government showed, however, availability for a meeting later with the CGTP.
Dozens of people linked to the CGTP protested in front of the Ministry of Labor, demanding that the union center be part of the meeting being held between the Government, UGT and the four business confederations on changes to labor law.
Among the various slogans chanted by the CGTP delegation were “the labor package is ordered by the boss” or “respect, respect”.
Recalling that the union center has already presented proposals to review the labor law, Tiago Oliveira also reiterated that the executive’s proposal represents an “attack on workers’ rights” and said he hopes to be received soon by the President of the Republic, António José Seguro.
Moments before, the CGTP leader addressed the protesters who were in the delegation, criticizing the “meetings apart from the Social Concertation” and demanding “that the Constitution of the Republic be complied with”.
“It’s up to the unions, it’s up to the union configurations to participate in the construction of labor legislation. Don’t alienate the largest union center in the country”, he pointed out.
Noting that the entire process is “mined by disrespect” and “unconstitutionalities”, Tiago Oliveira also said that “the struggle of those who work will continue” and that the CGTP will meet its National Council next Wednesday, where new forms of struggle will be debated.
The CGTP protest was attended by the coordinator of the Bloco de Esquerda, José Manuel Pureza, who said that the Government’s stance is “an absolutely unbearable offense” and that “CGTP’s removal is proof of the Government’s authoritarianism”, which is why the party wanted to “express its solidarity” with the union federation.
Asked whether this meeting between the Government, UGT and ‘bosses’ only took place due to the appeal of the President of the Republic, Pureza considered it “evident” that “the minister’s will was to move forward against everything and everyone”.
The BE coordinator also extended his criticisms to the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, stating that “there is no difference between the authoritarianism of the Minister of Labor and the authoritarianism of the Prime Minister”.
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