Strike at Sines terminal had adherence “in the order of 100%”

“ A strike had a significant impact. Almost only six gas containers were loaded to Madeira Island. There was practically no cistern” from the terminal during the shutdown, Rogério Silva, from Fiequimetal, said, in statements today to the Lusa agency.

According to the leader, “the impact was in the order of 100% these days and today the situation remains” with the accession of the 24 workers directly linked to the operation at the LNG terminal.

The strike, which began on Sunday and ends on Tuesday, was convened by the SITE Sul and by the Fiequimetal (Interunion Federation of Metal Industries, Chemicals, Electrics, Pharmaceuticals, Cellulose, Paper, Graphics, Press, Energy and Mines).

Despite this accession, the trade unionist accused the administration of REN and the Government of having made an “abuse reading” of the minimum services agreement concluded at the Ministry of Labour. 

“ It is absolutely unacceptable that REN, during the strike, is selling, for example, gas to Spain”, criticised the person responsible, considering that “services of an imperturbable nature are hospitals”.

For this reason, he added, the union will “contain with the government” and demand that, in future stoppages, minimum services agreements “are fully respected”. 

“ The most important thing to highlight in this process of struggle is the determination of workers and their courage, because what is on the table, with regard to the conditions of access to pre-reform, is a matter that needs to be observed by REN ", he stressed. 

The halt is part of a process that, according to a communiqué of the trade union structure, has been dragging since 2012.

This concerns the creation of conditions for access to pre-reform similar to those provided for in the 2000 Collective Labour Agreement and the correction of wage differences, estimated “between EUR 100 and 200”, among workers performing the same functions. 

According to Rogério Silva, the workers will now meet in plenary “to assess the course of this strike and define the next steps”.

For their part, the unions also want to request a meeting with the Ministry of Labour, reaffirming that they are available to find solutions.

“If the administration of REN does not open up a space to build a solution here, based on common sense, dialogue, obviously this conflict tends to be eternal,” he warned. 

According to the manager, terminal workers have a mean age “around 40 years” and many accumulate more than two decades of shift work. 

If they remain in this regime “until the legal retirement age, some of them will be working 47 years in shifts,” he said. 

“ This situation has to be looked at with a medium-term strategy, which also cautions the very operation of that facility that is absolutely strategic for the country ", defended.

According to the source of REN, in response sent to Lusa, on Sunday, the strike called for to the terminal “is ongoing operations considered critical for the security of supply and management of gas reserves that is absolutely critical for some first-need services”.

The same source of REN added that the company “fully respects the right to strike”, stressing that it has “always maintained a constructive dialogue with trade unions and workers and recognises the sense of responsibility shown by all parties in fulfilling the minimum defined services”.