Portuguese workers to protest austerity policy nationwide 9/29, possible general strike

Portuguese workers nationwide will protest again Saturday, September 29, against the latest government issued austerity rules. Large gatherings of protesters are expected to concentrate in Lisbon and Porto, Portugal’s largest cities.

The protests are being called by CGTP (Central Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses) the largest Portuguese union federation, representing 727,000 workers in 81 unions.

Last week, Portugal underwent a wave of anti-austerity protest marches throughout the country. Marching under the slogan, “Screw the troika! We want our lives,” an estimated 1 million protesters came out against cuts in salaries, pensions and a recent announcement to put workers’ social security contributions up from 11% to 18%.

Workers have accused the government of taking money out of their pockets and giving it to employers by proposing cutting companies’ welfare contributions to 18 percent from 23.75 percent.

Also last week, Portugal’s largest trade union federations, CGTP and UGT, convened to consider calling a general strike and other protest actions against the austerity measures announced by the government early in the month.

http://portuguese-american-journal.com/labor-portuguese-works-to-protest-against-extreme-austerity-policies-update/