Lisbon Firefighters Begin Month-Long Strike for Better Conditions

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Translation

The Lisbon firefighters are on strike in October. They are demanding better working conditions and salaries. Currently, they earn €722, which is less than the minimum wage. The strike may continue into November if no negotiations occur. They also seek adjustments to their retirement plans and improved compensation for public holidays.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: Why are the Lisbon firefighters on strike?

They want better working conditions and salaries.

Question 2: What is the current salary of the firefighters?

They earn €722, which is less than the minimum wage.

Exercise: Vocabulary

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▌30/09/2024

The Lisbon Firefighters have embarked on a strike stretching from the beginning of October to the end of the month, demanding significant improvements in their working conditions. This protest has been instigated by the Sindicato dos Trabalhadores do Município de Lisboa (STML), emphasizing the necessity for the revision of the Professional Firefighters' Statute at the local administration level.

Originally slated for a shorter duration from October 1 to 13, the strike was extended to cover the entire month after a meeting failed to produce any commitment from the government to initiate negotiations. The union warned that the strike might continue into November if their demands are not satisfactorily addressed.

The key issue driving this strike is the outdated remuneration structure. Antonio Pascoal from the STML highlighted that firefighters are currently earning a base salary of €722, which is below the national minimum wage. The union argues that this salary not only violates legal standards but also fails to compensate for the risks and responsibilities that come with the job.

The firefighters are calling for a revision of the pay scale to ensure that no firefighter earns less than the legally guaranteed minimum wage. Moreover, they seek an adjustment of more than €52 in the current remuneration table, a demand fueled by a recent increase that public employees received but firefighters did not.

Lisbon Firefighters Begin Month-Long Strike for Better Conditions (Illustration)

Among their demands is the recognition of the firefighting profession as one of "rapid wear", given the high-risk nature of their work. The absence of a risk subsidy has placed them at a disadvantage, illustrated starkly by the casualties suffered during the recent summer season.

On top of salary revisions, the firefighters are also pressing for changes to their retirement system, ensuring it reflects the physical and psychological toll of their career. They advocate for a specific evaluation system that honors the unique aspects of their duties without being limited by quotas.

Their demands extend to the restoration of compensatory rest rights or additional compensation for work performed on mandatory public holidays. This rights restoration speaks to a broader request for better working conditions.

The Lisbon Firefighters will join a national protest organized by the Associação Nacional de Bombeiros Profissionais (ANBP) and the Sindicato Nacional de Bombeiros Profissionais (SNBP). This demonstration, aligned with the submission of the state budget to the Assembly of the Republic, will include a march from the Ministry of Internal Administration to the parliament.

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