The distribution workers’ strike will have a membership of between 10% and 20%, according to an estimate released this Wednesday by Sitese – Services Sector Workers’ Union.
“Speaking to those who work in large distribution, with some delegates, there is one or another person per store who goes on strike, so the participation in the strike is not great. Maybe 10%, 20%”the president of Sitese, José Filomeno, told Lusa over the phone.
The leader of the representative structure, linked to the UGT union center, pointed out that participation in these strikes “is never very high” because the sector’s income is low and this leads to “people ending up running away from the strike a little”.
Furthermore, he said, this Wednesday, Christmas Eve, “it is paid in a different way”.
“There are a lot of people who would like to go on strike and don’t because of these situations”pointed.
The strike, which began at 00:00 and lasted until 24:00, was called by Sitese to demand salary increases, decent work, professional development and measures that allow for the reconciliation of family and professional life.
According to the union leader, there must be a change for workers in the sector and employers must be made aware of this.
“These workers also have their families”he stated, saying that they should be able to spend Christmas with them, giving an example of preparing for the festival.
For its part, the Portuguese Distribution Company Association (APED) told Lusa that it does not expect any constraints.
“Of course, respecting the right to strike, companies are ensuring the normal and regular operation of stores, guaranteeing the right of consumers to have access to more than 4,800 food and non-food retail stores owned by APED members”says the association’s general director, Gonçalo Lobo Xavier, in a written response.
In the message, the head of the association highlighted that this was the first time in five years that the strike for December 24th was only called by one of the unions.
“CESP, from CGTP, for the first time in many years did not call a strike at this time, naturally because they were more focused on the general strike on December 11th”he safeguarded, noting that APED remains committed to collective bargaining and that the round of negotiations with all unions will resume in January.