The workers in Portugal have achieved, through their struggle, a great victory in defending their labour and trade union rights, by defeating the Labour Package [of legislation] put forth by the PSD/CDS Government and which was supported by the bosses’ confederations.

This is a great victory, which shows the decisive strength of the workers’ organization, struggle and unity.

It is an important and significant victory that crowns a process of struggle – that was waged since the Summer of last year - for the workers’ demands and rights and against the Labour Package. Part and parcel of these struggles were the major demonstrations of September 20 and November 8, the great General Strike of December 11, the major demonstrations of January 13, February 28 and April 17, the people’s commemorations of April 25, the May 1st Day of struggle, the great General Strike of June 3, as well as the rally in front of the Portuguese Parliament on June 18 and the presence during the vote on the Labour Package, on June 19, of hundreds of trade union representatives of the workers in the galleries of Parliament.

The struggle against the Labour Package accompanied the workers’ struggles for demands such as higher wages and better living standards, the strikes and struggles in companies and workplaces, as well as sectoral struggles and the struggle of the youth – including on March 28, Working Youth Day – and of women – namely on March 8, International Women’s Day.

The workers’ struggle was decisive for the outcome of the parliamentary vote that rejected the Labour Package of the Government and the bosses, which only received favourable votes from PSD/CDS and IL [parties]. The Chega [party], which until the final moment tried everything to ensure that the Labour Package could get through, was forced to vote against, countering its own will.

This was a struggle that had to confront intimidation, blackmail, lies, manipulation, demagoguery, and a powerful political and ideological propaganda which sought to promote the supposed benefits of the Labour Package and the inevitability of its implementation. But the workers overcame all this, not letting themselves be intimidated or coerced, and never giving up the struggle for their rights.

A decisive role in this victory was played by the action of the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – Intersindical Nacional (CGTP-IN), the United Trade Union Movement and other trade union structures, which during 11 months, in a persistent and incessant way, informed the workers about what the Labour Package meant, in terms of intensifying exploitation and the attack against their rights and living standards, and mobilized and organized the workers’ struggle.

This struggle was marked by the PCP’s own committed activity and action. From the very first moment, and in a confident way, [PCP] indicated the goal of defeating the Labour Package of the PSD/CDS Government and of big capital, directly contacted many thousands of workers, exposing and informing about the harmful contents of the Labour Package and isolating the Government and all those who were preparing to let this attack against the labour and trade union rights pass in Parliament.

The onslaught against workers’ rights, seeking to degrade their living standards and to jeopardize the future of the workers, of women, of the youth, of children is not just a reality in Portugal. It is also pursued by the European Union and by the generality of Governments in its member countries, as well as by Governments in other countries of the world.

The strength of the workers and of the people, which defeated the Labour Package, is the strength that can defeat the onslaught by the PSD/CDS Government – which is often made possible, whether by IL and Chega, whether by the PS – that imposes low wages and pensions, against the right to healthcare, to education, to social security, to housing and which privatizes strategic companies, among many other harmful aspects. [It is the strength] that can open the road towards a patriotic and left-wing alternative that defends the rights of the workers, of the people and of the Country, and not the interests of big capital and the subordination to the neoliberal, militaristic and federalist policies of the European Union, of the USA, of NATO and of imperialism in general.

The struggle is worthwhile!

The struggle continues!

Information of the International Department of the Portuguese Communist Party