Date: Tue, 04 Mar 1997 21:24:27 +0000 From: Joćo Paulo Monteiro <jpmonteiro-AT-mail.telepac.pt> Subject: M-G: Workers on the move in Portugal There is been of late a marked revival on workers demonstrations throughout this little country. The cause of the unrest has been a vile legal fraud by the "socialist" government of Ant=F3nio Guterres. This guy is a particularly spineless social-democrat always eager to perform ever more cerimonial bows to the big bosses and the catholic church. Workers have been promised a 40 hour limit on their weekly work for some years now. The promise was fullfiled (kind of) some time ago, but wraped up in some concessions on "flexibility and polivalence". This means the bosses now can distribute the work schedules more or less as it suits their necessities and the workers may be ordered to perform tasks totally outside their professional cathegory and contract specifications. This is in line with pomo managerial theories (just in time, lean and mean, etc.). Only the yellow unions confederation (UGT-socialists and popular democrats) signed this theacherous agreement that was later to be put into law. Worst was to come. The bosses all over the country (leaning on an ambiguity of the law) are now counting the little technical pauses of work as not being effective work time. These pauses of 10 to 15 minutes, two or three times a day (during which the worker is at the disposal of the bosses) are made for technical and productivity reasons and they have always been counted as effective work time. No more. The workers are being forced to work longer than before the fucking 40 hour law. They are taking to the streets led by the CGTP unions confederation (communists and left independents). The Provedoria da Justi=E7a (kind of an onbudsman) says the workers are right in their protests. But the prime-minister is already siding with the bosses in his despicable doubtful ways. This confederation (CGTP) is by far the largest here and one of the few good things we have in this country. It's led by a card carrying communist, an articulated chap by the name of Carvalho da Silva. It's good to see some red flags waving around. Unidade, unidade, unidade do trabalho contra o capital camaradas lutemos unidos porque é nossa a vit=F3ria final camaradas lutemos unidos porque é nossa a vit=F3ria final Jo=E3o Paulo Monteiro Porto --- from list marxism-general-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005