The third day of the partial strike by CP ticket inspectors and workers led to the suppression, between 0am and 7pm, of 14 trains, most of them urban in Lisbon, according to data sent by the carrier to Lusa.
According to CP – Comboios de Portugal, eight urban trains in Lisbon, four long-distance trains and two regional trains were discontinued during this period.
Of the total of 680 trains scheduled, there were 666 and the 14 suppressed correspond to 2.1%, indicated the operator.
CP ticket inspectors and box office workers began a strike on Thursday that will last until November 3, with the carrier anticipating interruptions in operations, especially on October 31.
In a note published on its website, the company reported that, “due to a strike called by the SFRCI union (Itinerant Commercial Review Railway Union) between October 24th (Thursday) and November 3rd”, there are planned disturbances in operation.
The operator warned of the impact on Lisbon’s urban areas, with a special impact on the Sintra, Azambuja and Sado lines.
CP foresees, from the 28th to the 30th of October, also due to a partial strike, disturbances in the Regional/InterRegional, Urban services of Coimbra and Urban services of Porto.
On October 31st, when the shutdown will be total for 24 hours, disruptions are expected at Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, Regional/InterRegional, Urbanos and Internacional Celta.
According to the ruling on minimum services published on the website of the Economic and Social Council (CES) on the Internet, on October 31, with “the exception of long-distance trains, all trains will circulate on the urban lines of Lisbon and Porto, regional and inter – regional, between 06:00 and 07:30 and between 18:30 and 20:00, in the exact terms foreseen before the presentation of the prior notice”.
For the remainder of the strike period, of partial shutdown, the court decreed only minimum services necessary for security, maintenance, emergency services and the like.
“In the remaining days there may be occasional disruptions”, particularly in the Lisbon Urban and Intercity services between the Algarve and Lisbon, CP also said.
According to a source from the SFRCI, which represents CP’s ticket office workers and reviewers, these strikes are motivated by what it says is the “non-compliance with the agreement” signed in July last year with the operator.
The protest “has to do with remuneration”, and, according to the union, the agreement foresees passing on a “transport voucher and availability bonus for the base salary”, something that would bring advantages to workers. The union wants a greater balance in relation to train drivers’ salaries.
Source: www.jornaldenegocios.pt
