Around 70% of drivers joined the strike, demanding better wages and working conditions.
A total of around 50 drivers from public passenger transport companies, Rodoeste, SAM and Empresa de Automóveis do Caniço (EACL), are today carrying out a 24-hour strike, due to dissatisfaction with the “low wages” charged and the working conditions. “precarious” work.
The “major force” of the strike is the Rodoeste drivers, who have a turnout of around 70%, “which could cause service disruption of around 85%”.
The union leader, who arrived in the Region yesterday on purpose to be present at this demonstration, in statements to TSF-Madeira, regretted that the Commercial and Industrial Association of Funchal (ACIF) “did not respond”, as well as the fact that the Regional Labor Directorate “has not fulfilled its duty, particularly as regards promoting conciliation between the parties”.
“What the workers asked us was to schedule this strike and now they have also told us that, in the case of the absence of contacts and the beginning of negotiations, to schedule new forms of struggle”, he highlighted.
Although there is no final data for other companies, namely SAM and Empresa de Automóveis do Caniço, the union’s membership in these companies was very scarce.
“The colleagues from SAM and Caniço are outnumbered and what was also conveyed to me is that this reason is due to the fact that they live somewhat far from Funchal”, he clarified.
Manuel Oliveira also highlights that in addition to these workers demanding better salary conditions, they also demand better buses, particularly in the case of Rodoeste.
The union leader even questions “where is the safety” of people and goods who daily use the services of this company to travel. “Passengers are transported in buses that are falling apart, especially on Rodoeste”, he stressed, adding that the excuse cannot be linked to the financial burden.