Strike of non-teacher workers closes schools in various districts

A 24-hour strike of non-teacher workers, called by the National Union of Education Professionals (Sinape), closed this morning several secondary and basic schools in the districts of Lisbon, Coimbra and Setúbal, found Lusa on site.

In Lisbon, at José Gomes Ferreira High School, the director of Benfica Schools (Lisbon) told Lusa that during the morning classes were suspended. From 1 p.m. the situation will be reassessed with the shift change of employees.

Also at 7:50, the Basic School 1/2/3 Pedro de Santarém, ended because of the strike of non-teachers and the same happened in the basic 2/3 Luís de Camões, and in the Secondary School D. Filipa de Lencastre and Basic School of Telheiras.

At Gago Coutinho High School in Alverca, students were also without classes.

On the south bank, in Setúbal district, Almada, the Basic School 2, 3 Costa da Caparica was also closed.

Still in the district of Lisbon, the scenery is the same at the Damião de Goes Secondary School in Alenquer, and at the D. António de Ataíde Basic School in Castanheira do Ribatejo, municipality of Vila Franca de Xira.

In Coimbra, the Infanta Maria Secondary School also ended due to the strike.

Contacted by Lusa by telephone, the leader of the National Union of Education Professionals (SINAPE), Francisco Pinto said, about 8:45 am, already aware of “many schools closed throughout the country.

The union leader indicated that in Lisbon the schools of Olaias, Pedro Santarém, José Gomes Ferreira and Camões groups are still closed.

“The panorama is identical throughout the country, we have knowledge of closed schools in Viseu, Pedras Salgadas, Aveiro, Coimbra, Silves, Albufeira, Lagoa, Palmela, Setúbal and Sesimbra, among other locations. We think that what we thought is going to happen: a session of 70% of non-teacher workers”, he said.

According to the union, the strike targets non-teacher workers, as operational assistants, technical assistants and specialized and superior technicians.

According to a statement from Sinape, non-teachers – senior technicians, technical and operational assistants claim their own careers, given the specificity of their functions.

Sinape also said that workers “are in a regime of consecutive precariousness, no career, no progression and no functional recognition in public administration”.