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Algarve |
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General strike affects flights, schools and courts
• 14 Jun 2007 •
 THE recent general strike mainly affected services at the Algarve’s courts, schools and the airport. Faro was the only Portuguese airport affected by the strike. Many flights had considerable delays and several departures had to be cancelled while some arrivals had to be diverted to Seville and Lisbon.
Most of the fire-fighters working for the airport’s Fire Brigade were on strike, which was the main reason for the problems which affected hundreds of tourists, as airport safety regulations require that on-site fire-fighting services must be available at all times. Outgoing flights were severely delayed particularly easyJet, Monarch and Transavia departures. Ryanair cancelled five flights and one Channel Express flight to Leeds was also cancelled. Two easyJet flights from Liverpool and Nottingham scheduled to arrive in Faro landed in Seville and the passengers had to be taken to the Algarve by coach.
The general strike, called by the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) to protest against measures by the Socialist government to reduce the budget deficit by cutting workers’ benefits, also affected sea ports in the Algarve. Ships’ arrivals and departures from Faro, Olhão, Portimão and Vila Real de Santo António were halted during 24 hours. Public transportation services were also affected – according to the CGTP, 85 per cent of the workers of Albufeira’s bus services went on strike.
Many hospital staff joined in the general strike, according to CGTP figures, 64 per cent at Faro hospital and 50 per cent at Lagos hospital. Many public services at most of Algarve’s town halls, as well as many schools throughout the region, were also affected. Courts in Faro, Portimão, Tavira and Silves were closed. The strike however didn’t affect hotel and restaurant businesses.
The Euro Weekly News contacted several hotels in the Algarve, which confirmed that none of their workers were participating in the strike.
According to government figures, only14 per cent of the civil service took part in the general strike, most of them were teaching staff, workers in the health service and civil servants. Commenting on the strike, Labour Minister Jose Vieira da Silva said: “This is a partial strike with limited consequences.”
Finance Minister Teixeira dos Santos agreed, saying that the impact of Portugal’s general strike was partial in some sectors and that the country was not paralysed. However, CGTP, a union which represents about 700,000 workers, said that government figures were wrong and stated that at least 80 per cent of civil servants had joined the strike. |  Return to Top
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