Portugal subway workers go on strike

Portuguese subway workers have staged a fresh strike, crippling transportation in the capital, Lisbon.

The 24-hour walk-out by Lisbon’s metropolitan subway staff on Tuesday caused long queues of passengers who had to wait to take buses. It was the twelfth time this year that the workers went on strike.

The workers’ decision to strike came in protest at the government’s plan to privatize public transport companies. Some labor groups and unions fear the move will result in worse pay deals and working conditions.

The protesting workers called on the Portuguese government to keep the Metropolitano de Lisboa in public hands.

The Portuguese government grants concessions to run the Lisbon bus company, Carris, and parts of the national rail company, Comboios de Portugal, and plans to sell flag-carrier, TAP Portugal.

The companies are around 20 billion dollars in debt making them unable to spend on improving services and infrastructure.

Many protests have been held in Portugal over the impact of government austerity measures on people’s lives.

Protesters demanded the government’s immediate action to improve work conditions for employees, including putting an end to austerity measures as well as wage and benefit cuts.

Battered by the global financial downturn, the Portuguese economy fell into a recession, which compelled the country to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union for a bailout in 2011.

In return for the bailout, the Portuguese government had to impose a number of austerity measures, including more public spending cuts and tax rises, as required by the terms of the international bailout loan.

IA/HSN/SS