Strikes in Portugal against privatisation

[northwichcat]

A number of strikes appear to be happening in Portugal due to proposed privatisation of state owned companies.

However, what I find interesting is in Lisbon Carris and Metro workers are going on regular strikes, yet across the river in Almada staff employed by Transportes Do Sul seem happy and aren't striking. (Transportes Do Sul is owned by Arriva.)

Are staff actually worse off under private companies or is just workers don't want change/uncertainty?

 

[Simon11]

I believe it is the change/uncertainty that staff don't like.

The Portugal government is trying to saving money and within the transport section, are making big changes by encouraging private companies to take over public owned firms.

I would expect that quite a few well known private operators will be looking into the Portugal transport market.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

No doubt the sell-off plan is because of the IMF/ECB conditions on the extra government loans.
Something similar going on, or even more drastic, in Greece I think.

 

[northwichcat]

I've found a brief English language news story on the strikes

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portuguese labor groups are vowing to keep up their fight against the government's privatization plans for public transport, as Lisbon subway staff walked off the job for the 43rd time in four years.

Workers at the Lisbon bus company Carris and national railroad company Comboios de Portugal, both state-owned, have also staged dozens of strikes since debt-heavy Portugal needed a 78 billion euro ($85 billion) bailout in 2011.

The public transport companies are deep in the red, and the government is trying to reduce public debt which is around 130 percent of GDP — the third highest in the European Union.

But many workers fear they will lose entitlements and benefits under private management.

The Federation of Transport and Communications Unions said Tuesday's 24-hour strike likely wouldn't be the last.

http://news.yahoo.com/portuguese-transport-unions-hold-against-privatization-095417877.html