It’s official. The Government approved on Thursday the use of civil requisition in TAP, forcing the air carrier’s employees to submit to the service during the four days of the general strike scheduled for the Christmas period and the New Year. The decision covers 70% of the company’s workers and allow, he said, to ensure 100% of the flights scheduled for the strike period (27-30 December).
Just once the civil requisition was used in TAP in 1997, and its effectiveness is not guaranteed in advance. It is that workers may simply not attend , provided that justify their absence.
At the press conference of the Council of Ministers (CM) Thursday, Economy Minister, António Pires Lima, justified the decision with the fact that the strike had been called to the Christmas season, “a time of family reunion”, where many Portuguese who work and live out “have no alternative to move to Portugal” without being TAP.
“losses of hundreds of millions of euros” for tourism and for the country’s image to a standstill four days will incur and that “the State can not remain indifferent” also weighed in decision, he added Pires de Lima in the briefing that followed the CM meeting.
“We are talking about Christmas, is not a any time. If it were not for Christmas, the Government’s attitude could be another, “said Pires de Lima, leaving the note he expects” the request is exemplarily fulfilled. “
The Secretary of State for Transport, Sergio Monteiro explained that the request will cover 70% of TAP staff and will ensure 100% of scheduled flights. Are a total of 1141 flights, of which 144 for the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira, stressed Pires de Lima. Are “impressive numbers” that show and “the fundamental role that the TAP plays in the Christmas season”
Sergio Monteiro also stressed that the fact that the request -. Whose decree has yet to be published – cover only 70 % of workers shows and “rigor” with which the matter was worked by the Government, because “does not question the right to strike” and only covers workers considered essential for the conduct of operations.
Asked about the legality of the request, Pires de Lima stressed that the mechanism is provided by law and there are precedents. In 1997, a socialist government, the request was used “in a less exceptional period in the summer,” and the decision “has been properly” by the Supreme Administrative Court. The Government is therefore convinced of the legal soundness of the decision and “prepared to enforce the general interest,” he said.
The minister also said that the Government is willing to sit to the negotiating table with the unions, but “the first step must be to desconvocação strike”. And pushed the issue of privatization of any negotiations. The executive admits discuss a working group the “matters of concern to workers and do not have to do with the privatization decision, the Government has already taken,” said Pires de Lima.
Unions say government is shirking responsibilities
The unions platform TAP has already responded, saying, in a statement, that the Government “does not know the history of TAP, specifically in Regarding the effects of civil requests in the company “, and accuses the executive not to assume” their responsibilities for errors and omissions committed by the management of TAP “.
To the platform of trade unions, the government wants to “blame the TAP employees for the consequences of decisions beyond their control, in particular for the losses accumulated in the VEM [maintenance company] In Brazil, more than 500 million euros “. And also accuses the executive formed by the PSD and CDS search “deceive the Portuguese on the serious consequences of privatization of TAP to the national interest, economic and strategic plan.”
The decision to advance to the request has led the Left Bloc to call the Minister of Economy of Parliament. In a document lodged today in the Assembly services, favor blocs ask Pires de Lima be heard urgently to explain the reasons that led to the decision on Thursday.
Also UGT has already commented on the decision to proceed with civil request, a statement which criticized the measure and calls for the executive to resume “dialogue with the unions TAP”. In the document, the UGT notes that “the courts have long commented on the figure of the civil requisition, making it clear that the government can only make use of it installed after the strike, when one knows the full extent of its effects and this knowledge resulting in the finding that minimum services are not being provided. “
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