Dear Comrades,

The CGTP-IN expresses its solidarity with the Greek workers’ struggle against their government’s backward labour measures.

Expressing the interests of the large economic and financial groups, corresponding to the model of low wages, precariousness and unlimited exploitation that continues to be imposed on countries like ours by the Euro and the European Union, the announced measures deregulate and increase working hours, introducing a sixth working day and a 48- hour week, extending unpaid overtime and raising the retirement age. By ignoring the demands for a substantial increase in wages and pensions, the mandatory application of collective bargaining, the reinforcement of health and safety measures at work and the reduction of working hours, the Greek government is perpetuating a situation of increased exploitation and a regression in the working and living conditions of Greek workers and people.

The increase in working hours represents a civilizational step backwards that seeks to impose working conditions from the past. The workers’ struggle has demonstrated its ability to combat the implementation of these measures, as was the case in Portugal when an attempt was made to increase the working week for public and local administration workers by 5 hours, an attempt that was defeated by their struggle. The CGTP-IN salutes the struggle of the workers who, through their unions, have managed to prevent the implementation of these serious measures in some sectors and workplaces.

In Portugal, too, workers continue to fight for a significant and general increase in wages,  an end to the constraints on collective bargaining, an end to precariousness and a reduction in working hours, with the immediate aim of 35 hours for all workers, in both the public and private sectors.

Reaffirming the bonds of friendship and solidarity that unite the workers of both countries, we express the solidarity of the Portuguese workers and the CGTP-IN with your struggle against measures that attack the fundamental rights of workers and the people and for an mprovement in their living and working conditions.