May 8 promises to be a very bad day for anyone who needs to travel by rail.
Hundreds of workers are expected to support the day-long train strike called in protest to government plans for the merger of Portugal’s road and rail networks.
The government maintains the rationale behind the merger is “obvious” and that it makes perfect economic sense. It claims money saved will come to as much as €50 million.
But Socialists are not so sure. They say the government hasn’t done its homework and the plans will only need to “economic turbulence”.
Rail unions agree, threatening “significant impacts” through strike action.
“There will be good adhesion,” union boss Abílio Carvalho told Lusa news agency, referring to May 8. “The feeling of discontent among railway workers has been growing – particularly since the prime minister confirmed that salary cuts are to be definitive.”
Meantime, representatives of Refer CP have called for a meeting with economy minister Pires de Lima to debate policies for the sector.
Pires de Lima announced the merger of Refer and Estradas de Portugal at the beginning of April, saying the plan should go ahead as soon as possible.
The new company – to be called Infra-estruturas de Portugal – would have a workforce of up to 4,000 people, transport and communications minister Sérgio Monteiro said. This suggests that layoffs are likely, as EP currently employs 2,800 people, and Refer, at last count, had over 1,400.
