Starting the intervention in the capital with the repressed rights of the Palestinians, Tiago Oliveira called for a State of Palestine recognized by the international community and an end to the war, which has already claimed the lives of over 30,000 Palestinians in the Middle East. “Peace yes, war no!” exclaimed the CGTP leader.
Turning to Portuguese workers, Tiago Oliveira said that the objective of the CGTP is to increase wages, end labor exploitation and increase pensions. With a new Government in office, workers will continue to experience several difficulties.
“Let us not deceive ourselves. The future is not easy for workers, young people and retirees.”
Tiago Oliveira recalled the “brutal” increase in the cost of living, adding that the profits of large companies rose. The CGTP leader accused the former PS Executive of having perpetuated the policy against workers and stated that the new Government will continue to fail to respect workers’ rights.“Those who govern the country are only interested in the interests of the bosses. We know the PSD/CDS Government well. We know your past and your goals for the future. We know the Government Program well and what it entails. It involves more exploitation, more precariousness and less pay.”
The CGTP leader pointed out that the increase in the average salary that the new Government promised is not of interest to workers but to others.
“Regarding employment with rights, what we see is the perpetuation of the model of precariousness, of low wages that leads workers to a life of uncertainty and insecurity”.
Tiago Oliveira also recalled that Portugal is the second country in the European Union with the highest number of precarious relationships and accused the current Government of not wanting to resolve the “social scourge”.
UGT says the country cannot start from “zero”
“It is the Government of Portugal that is sitting at the Social Concertation table. We cannot accept that each new Government will start from scratch.”
Mário Mourão asked for a willingness to “change” and to make new proposals for the future.
Present at the Labor Day celebrations in Lisbon, PS, BE, PAN and PCP defended increasing salaries for the future. Mariana Mortágua says that workers have to face several problems such as low wages, long hours and precariousness.
“We want less working time, better wages and more stable living conditions, because in the end that’s all we’re looking for to have a better life and a better future. The country becomes stronger, grows more, is more equal, if it is able to pay better wages, provide better working conditions, provide more job stability and also fewer working hours”.
The PCP recalled the demonstration of strength by many workers on May 1st and that their demands “are fair”, thus asking the new Government to value those who work.
“It would be good for the Government, once and for all, to fulfill the promises it made to various professional sectors and stop submitting to the interests of others, namely Brussels, and submit to the interests of the majority”, declared Paulo Raimundo.
Already the PS was represented by the head of list for the European Elections, Marta Temido, who spoke of May 1st as a “party to celebrate work” and how it is structural to create fairer societies, ensuring that the topic will be highlighted on the European agenda.
“What Europe has assumed and that Portugal has translated into its national targets in relation to the employment rate, in relation to the rate of the adult population undergoing training that allows it to deal with the new challenges of the world of work, in relation to the reduction of poverty , these are challenges that are not just for paper”.
Tags: #1st CGTP accuses Government wanting workers
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