Portuguese workers strike over austerity cuts
- 13 years ago
This departure hall at a Lisbon railway station is all but deserted, as a general strike comes into effect across Portugal.
Workers are protesting tough austerity measures set by the centre-right government to meet budget goals imposed by the European Union.
(SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) MACHINE OPERATOR CARLOS SILVA SAYING:
"Because of what the Troika came here to do I think there are reasons to strike. I've paid for social security since 1981, why am I going to be left without part of my Christmas bonus? I think it is wrong!"
From midnight Wednesday to midnight Thursday, buses stand idle, schools remain closed, and rubbish is not collected.
The disruption to transport networks is preventing people from getting to work, and the strike by ground, cabin, and air control staff at Lisbon airport has stranded passengers.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) STRANDED PASSENGER WANTING TO GO TO BRAZIL, ALINI DEAKIANU, SAYING:
"Well, this affects me because my relatives will be waiting for me at the airport, I was very anxious to get home, and right now I have to postpone it. And I also have a seminar that I was going to attend, and I cannot attend it anymore. So, that was actually not good at all."
Portugal was the third country in the euro zone to seek a bailout, after Greece and Ireland, and is now headed for its deepest recession since returning to democracy in 1974.
In the drive to cut debt, the unpopular economic reforms include spending cuts from health services to salaries to public television, and changes to labour laws which include extending the working day by half an hour.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
Workers are protesting tough austerity measures set by the centre-right government to meet budget goals imposed by the European Union.
(SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) MACHINE OPERATOR CARLOS SILVA SAYING:
"Because of what the Troika came here to do I think there are reasons to strike. I've paid for social security since 1981, why am I going to be left without part of my Christmas bonus? I think it is wrong!"
From midnight Wednesday to midnight Thursday, buses stand idle, schools remain closed, and rubbish is not collected.
The disruption to transport networks is preventing people from getting to work, and the strike by ground, cabin, and air control staff at Lisbon airport has stranded passengers.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) STRANDED PASSENGER WANTING TO GO TO BRAZIL, ALINI DEAKIANU, SAYING:
"Well, this affects me because my relatives will be waiting for me at the airport, I was very anxious to get home, and right now I have to postpone it. And I also have a seminar that I was going to attend, and I cannot attend it anymore. So, that was actually not good at all."
Portugal was the third country in the euro zone to seek a bailout, after Greece and Ireland, and is now headed for its deepest recession since returning to democracy in 1974.
In the drive to cut debt, the unpopular economic reforms include spending cuts from health services to salaries to public television, and changes to labour laws which include extending the working day by half an hour.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.