2 weeks Ago
The Portuguese Trade, Office and Services Workers Union ( CESP ) has called a strike by distribution workers for November 9. In the statement, the union indicated that CESP leaders and union delegates in distribution companies met to discuss the situation in the sector. “We have decided to intensify the struggle over the next month, which will culminate in a national strike on November 9, with participation in the demonstration called by CGTP-IN for the same day”, it indicated.
“Distribution companies, responsible for 12.4% of the national GDP [Gross Domestic Product], employ more than 140,000 workers with minimum wages, unregulated hours and extremely intense work rhythms”, the union structure denounced. “In recent years, they have presented unacceptable proposals to the union representing their workers, CESP, for updating the CCT [collective labour agreement]”, it indicated, stressing that they will not accept “agreements that contain minimum wages, time banks, or the generalisation of precariousness through fixed-term contracts in the sector”.
“The review of the Collective Labour Agreement for workers in distribution companies has been dragging on since 2020 and has not been revised since 2016”, said CESP, in a resolution approved this Monday, recalling that it defined as its objective the “increase in the salaries of all workers, with a guarantee that the salary difference between levels of the salary scale will be maintained, without the loss of any rights”. According to the document, “APED, the employers’ association in the sector, in addition to wanting to impose a time bank system and worsen precarious employment, intends to compress the professional careers of all workers, devaluing work and workers, with totally unacceptable proposals”. The workers are therefore demanding “an increase in the salaries of all workers and the setting of the lowest salary in the sector at 1,000 euros on 1 January 2025”, 25 working days of holidays, “the valorisation of careers and the maintenance of the salary differentiation between all levels of the professional career and the salary scale”, the review of the collective bargaining agreement, without loss of rights, the closure of shops on Sundays and public holidays, the reduction of the opening hours until 22:00 and the payment of the additional remuneration for night work from 20:00.
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