The history of strikes is “relatively low” in passenger transport and workers in the sector are no longer under the “absolute control of a trade union”, considers Antrop. Therefore, the association does not expect the general strike on December 11th to generate major disruptions.
“For our members, it does not seem that the impact is very significant”, says Luís Cabaço Martins, president of Antrop – National Passenger Transport Association, in statements to Jornal Económico, when asked about the expected effects of the general strike.
“We have a relatively low history of strikes. We seek to promote collective negotiations, we have been making agreements since 2015 with all unions in the sector, from CGTP to UGT and independent unions. We have had uninterrupted agreements with all unions for 10 years”, notes the representative of the passenger transport companies, considering that “there is social peace here supported by a policy of collective bargaining”.
Being a strike that “has to do with the country’s general policy” — against the new labor package — and not with specific aspects of passenger transport, Luís Cabaço Martins recognizes that “there is always some impact”, and even admits that “it can surprise”. But the circumstances will be, “from the outset”, less conducive to a large turnout of passenger transport workers, understands the person in charge.
Furthermore, highlights Luís Cabaço Martins, the influence of CGTP and UGT is diluted in passenger transport: “Today, there is no specific influence of a trade union central, there are already several types of unions, namely independent ones. The transport sector is more fragmented than 20 years ago, when there was the absolute dominance of a trade union central, the CGTP, and then UGT following”, analyzes the representative of the transport companies. “Now, this representation is widely distributed across various types of unions, some corporate and many independent.”
The scenario in other sectors that “traditionally have more significant impacts” in this type of strike is potentially different: “Being called by the two trade unions, I admit that the impact at national level could be greater”, he states.