Maritime pilots on strike

Source: Notícias ao Minuto / Lusa

The maritime pilots are on strike on November 29 and 30 and return to stop on the 6th and 7th of December, demanding compliance with an agreement that provides for access to early retirement age at 60 years.

RIt is claimed compliance with the agreement of August 7, 2019, with the port administrations, obtained after long negotiations, promoted by the previous government, in which it was sought to respond to a just claim of these professionals regarding the possibility of anticipating retirement from the age of 60″, reads a statement from the Union of Captains, Pilot Officers, Commissioners and Engineers of the Merchant Navy (Oficiaismar), published on the website of the Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (Fectrans).

According to him, “despite all attempts to dialogue with the Government over the last three years, the possibilities for negotiation are exhausted, all the more so since, at a meeting at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, held on September 21, 2022, it was clearly said that the Government would not implement this agreement.”

The protest, in the form of a total work stoppage, “maritime pilots throughout the national territory, regardless of the nature of the employment contract.”

The pilots claim about the “implementation of the draft diploma proposal, endorsed by the unions representing the maritime pilots and port administrations on August 7, 2019 and that “recognizes the particularly painful and exhausting nature of the professional activity carried out by technical piloting staff at the service of port administrations, guaranteeing these professionals the right/ possibility of retirement from the age of 60.

The strike will take place between 00:00 today until the end of the day on Wednesday and between 00:00 on December 6 and the end of December 7, being assured the provision of minimum services, according to the strike notice, to which Lusa agency had access.

The document was sent to the Port Authorities of Viana do Castelo, Douro e Leixões, Aveiro, Figueira da Foz, Lisboa, Setúbal e Sesimbra, Sines e Algarve, Região Autónoma da Madeira e Portos dos Açores.