Enough claims that former workers of the Base of the Lajes were stolen

O member of the Aquida/Açores Francisco Lima said today that the former Portuguese workers at the Base das Lajes were “stealed by the system”, to be reimbursed from the funds that were taken from them between 2015 and 2024.

At the end of a meeting with the committee of former workers of the Base das Lajes, on the island of Terceira, the deputy recalled that 450 workers were penalized, with the sustainability factor, between 2015 and 2024, at the time of early retirement, due to the reduction of personnel in that military structure.

But the sustainability factor was restored in 2024 and the workers who left the base between 2015 and 2024 “were not repaid from that money, which corresponds to about EUR 7.8 million,” says a press release.

Francisco Lima recalled that whenever legislation is presented in the Assembly of the Republic to solve this problem, “Arrivo votes in favour, for recognizing the importance it has for the former Portuguese workers at the Base das Lajes”.

“ We challenge the PS and the PSD to vote in favour to replace that money to former workers, who even have flexibility to receive the €7.8 million that the State owes them,” he said.

At the meeting with former workers, the issue of soil contamination of Praia da Vitória was also addressed due to the use of the Base das Lajes by the United States of America.

A subject that former workers also want to see clarified, without politicizing the theme, and without studies “which can become an economic problem for Terceira Island, in exchange for egos and doctoral theses”, he says.

Francisco Lima considered that “the most important thing is for the workers themselves to know what impact this has had on their health.”