Aveiro, Portugal, Oct. 11, 2024 (Lusa) - Dozens of canteen and catering workers are demonstrating in Aveiro on Friday to demand better working conditions on a day marked by a strike that could affect the operation of school and hospital canteens.
The protest, called by the Federation of Agriculture, Food, Drink, Hospitality and Tourism Unions of Portugal (FESAHT), is taking place near the Aveiro Exhibition Centre, where the congress of the Hotel, Restaurant and Similar Services Association of Portugal (AHRESP) kicked off this morning, with the minister of the economy, Pedro Reis, in attendance.
On arrival, the minister addressed the demonstrators to hear their concerns, which mainly relate to better salaries and a set of rights they want to take away.
"AHRESP hasn't negotiated the collective labour contract for canteen workers with the CGTP unions for 21 years, and they want to take away workers' rights," said Afonso Figueiredo, head of FESAHT, who also defended a "substantial increase" in the minimum wage.
"We've now made a substantial increase, but I take good note of what you've said (...) This signal of an increase in the social dialogue agreements was an important step, but we're here to listen to you," said the minister.
"Stop exploitation. We say no to 12-hour shifts" and "There is a trained workforce. We won't accept any more exploitation" are some of the messages on the demonstrators' placards, while shouting slogans such as “We need a pay rise”.
Paula Cordeiro has worked at the Pedrulha training centre in Coimbra for 37 years and said she only receives the minimum wage. "If an employee came in now, she'd earn as much as me. I've never received a day's pay. They don't value the work of an employee from many years ago. It's all the same," she said.
Doroteia Filipe, a second shift cook at the Nelas school centre in Viseu, is also dissatisfied with her salary. "I've been working for the company for 33 years and never moved up," she said.
The Federation of Agriculture, Food, Drink, Hospitality and Tourism Unions of Portugal (FESAHT) called the national strike, which affects workers in canteens, cafeterias, catering plants, motorway service areas, and concession bars.
The union federation is demanding the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement, wage increases of over €150 for all workers, updating the food allowance and the payment of wages for workers with split hours or who work shifts, and weekend work.
Also at the top of the list of demands is a reduction in working hours to 35 hours a week, 25 working days holiday and the employment of all fixed-term workers.
In specific cases, the federation is demanding the payment of a risk allowance for canteen workers in hospitals and prisons and full-time contracts with catering in school canteens.
JDN/ADB // ADB.
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