General Strike 24 Nov

[natking]

Just heard there is a general strike in Portugal planned for 24 Nov. If it goes ahead will likely include air traffic control and therefore cause travel chaos. We are due to fly with Ryanair from Edinburgh to Faro that day. How likely is it that strike will go ahead and flights cancelled? Any idea when we will know either way whether strike will go ahead? Thanks.

[Gary/Gaynor]

Was just reading about this on the CVO Facebook site. Portugal cannot afford to strike. If it's to do with austerity measures then they need every bit of money tourism can bring in even at that time of year, that's all that's left.
Gaynor

[laserblazer]

One of our TAs has come in to say that the Unison strike is going ahead here on the 30th.

[natking]

This is very frustrating. According to Ryanair the flight is still on schedule even though there is a 99.9% chance strike will go ahead and all flights will be cancelled. Planning to book altrernative travel a day later as contingency.

Seems counter intuitive to take strike action which will undoubtedly impact one of the key contributors to the local economy - tourism.

[Bruce Wallis]

Since when did any strikers ever consider the adverse impact on their fellow man or society?

Those that do, ignore the political motives of their trades unions, and refuse to follow the herd.

To give this balance, sometimes it is necessary to give greedy employers a kick in the goollies.

What I find absurd is the political strikes going on at the moment, because the government are attempting to put the country on its feet again

[James Faro]

Angus, I hope you get around this problem and get to the Algarve on a different date.

It seems the Portuguese are very aggrieved by the actions their government is taking! It will solve nothing at the end of the day as severe economic woes means governments have an extremley strong excuse to implement unpoular reforms. To coin a phrase "there is no alternative!"

There needs to be a stick and carrot approach. Stress pain today, but gain in the long terml If it is all gloom and doom, people on strike will feel they have nothing to loose.

[e-richard]

Since when did any strikers ever consider the adverse impact on their fellow man or society?

Oh, surely you remember BA staff choosing strike dates to disrupt as many travelling passengers as they could ?

What I find absurd is the political strikes going on at the moment, because the government are attempting to put the country on its feet again

Totally agree about this one. While I have sympathy with those (particularly in Greece) who may "protest" at the mess their Govts have made of the economy, there is no need to strike and make matters worse.

[Michael Crane]

.... there is no need to strike and make matters worse.

So why is UNISON telling Sharen and her NHS colleagues to strike later this month whilst they are still engaged in talks with the Government? No wonder we're in the merde!

[widge]

This is about the most recent austerity measures which seem to target working people & particularly those on low pay.

The two big unions UGT and CGTP decided to call the general strike as a direct response to the austerity measures announced by Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, particularly the elimination of Christmas and holiday bonuses for the next two years for all public servants who earn over €1,000.

The prime minister has also said the number of public holidays would be reduced or shifted to beside a weekend and private industry could make workers put in another 30 minutes a day for no extra pay.

So it's probably got something to do with the rich politicians and bankers getting Portugal into this mess and the poor people paying to get them out of it, actually it sounds just like the UK (we're all in this together...........yeah right)!

[biffa]

Announced today that 4 bank holidays will be cut - 2 civil and 2 religious. They do not seem keen to move them alongside a weekend though to avoid the "pontes" that are so popular here. Banks restricted to offer a max of 3% above Euribor in interest. Some banks were offering 6% for large deposits.

[joeysoap]

="biffa". Some banks were offering 6% for large deposits.]

wow!! what are they charging ?

[Milo]

Is this strike on the 24th going ahead as i was intending to book fights for that day as i need to visit for business reasons.

thanks

Milo

[biffa]

The general strike is still planned for 24th. All banks now restricted by the Bank of Portugal to offering a maximum of 3% above Euribor (gives 4,8% I think less of course 21,5% tax)