PRESENTATION

1. PRESENTATION Local Administration Workers Trade Union - Portugal BRUSSELS – 5,6 MAY 2012

2. BRIEF BACKGROUND Following the "Memorandum" troika IMF / ECB / EU, signed by PS and the current ruling parties, PSD and CDS / PP, the country and the people are subjected to a severe impoverishment program translated into wage cuts, allowances, pensions reductions, cuts on social benefits, destruction of the social functions of the state and imposition of a comprehensive program of privatization of strategic companies and public services, leaving the state completely devoid of instrumental ability to develop public policy worthy of the name. All this is presented and justified in the name of combating debt and public deficit, a process in which the austerity measures succeed no end in sight, dragging the country into the vicious cycle of economic stagnation / recession, jeopardizing any possibility to overcome the crisis.Largely an obstacle to these policies, the local government (municipalities and parishes), responsible for many services, are being subjected to intense pressures and set-oriented neo-liberal measures, such as the following reduction of financial transfers originating from State Budget, the inability to hire workers and finally the reduction of their own number.

3. WHO ARE WE? STAL represents all the employees that, no matter the type of the regime/contract/statute, work in the local or regional public administration, in the public companies, in public services held by private concessionaires, as well, in generally, in all kinds of public or private entities invested with administrative powers or performing local, regional, inter-regional public functions or services. Employees that, no matter the type of the regime/contract/statute, work for entities responsible for public services, activities and functions, targeted or submitted to privatization. We are affiliated at CGTP-IN. We are also affiliated at EPSU and PSI.

4. A mass mobilization, demanding and solidary unionism The workers rights history is indissociable linked to emancipatory struggles. The struggle is only effective when it is covers the maximum workers We are not a island, solidarity is crucial – with general and specific struggles, with people’s and workers fights all over the world. The fight for the improvement of life and working conditions demands a class oriented unionism

5. The role of the union Protect and defend individual and collective workers rights Improve working and living conditions. Promote solidarity among workers and trade union and class conscious. Defend and improve democratic local government. Fight for better public services, democratic, universal, for all, social justice and a fairer society.

6. Demanding and collective bargaining Dealing with government, municipalities and companies, we assume a responsible attitude of negotiation and collective effort to solve workers’ problems. But we also know that it is almost impossible to succeed at the negotiations table if we abandon our right to fight.

7. Our role and responsability in this time Under and with the pretext of the crisisthe government is destroying important social and labour rights. In fact, this right wing government is making a reckoning with the Revolution 25 April. Privatization received a new impetus. The privatizatiof of water for example, but also public health, public school, social security. Municipalities are under a strong offensive (less money, less workers, liberalization and privatization of local public services) Local goverment faces the risk of extinction, particularly the parishes/boroughs – hundreds of them are at risk – municipalities will go next Half of the municipal companies (nearly 190) may disapear half of the municipal under the bill the government(more privatization and more unemployment – 6000/7000 jobs lost).

8. RESIST AND FIGHT AT THE WORKPLACE The strength of unions has its roots in the workers united and organized in local work, mobilized to defend, promote and realize their rights and fight for their aspirations for better living and working. Unions reinforce through the ability to represent all workers, whatever theiroccupations and work contracts, and to defend and organize the unemployed in the struggle for employment and social security. It is in the workplace that strengthens the foundation of organized trade unions and develops class consciousness of workers. It is there to give, first, class conflict. Is there that rises and triggers the action of demands and claims the responsiveness of the union to the practical problems of workers. It is there that is unionized, to elect delegates unions and staff are recruited to the governing bodies of various levels of union structure. March 22/2012 – General strike – 80% of participation in local government.

9. RESIST AND FIGHTAT THE WORKPLACE (2) The union work puts the leaders of the unions need for a permanent knowledge of the reality experienced at each site work for the definition of the claims, the priorities of the measures to implement and objectives to meet the needs felt by workers. This requirement of knowledge and effectiveness in action, featuring a working method and trade union action which requires the consideration of the workplace as the center of action and involves planning, priority setting and integrated industrial action, in that the reinforcement of the results are closely linked to the action results of demands and responding to problems experienced by workers. This method and connection organized intervention of workers can not be replaced by any other mode of action.

10. AND AT ALL LEVELS…BUILDING SOLIDARITY In this context we have strengthen cooperation within the union movement and with other organizations, building platforms around several issues: public school, public water – «Água de todos» campaign; against the extinction of the parishes; peace movement. In recent times we have witnessed huge mobilizations organized by class trade union movement, always with strong participation of social movements, associations, user committes. We are experiencing new forms of intervention, new actors, and we need to take this into account to fight neoliberal policies. And we have to work a lot on this. We believe the struggle is the key factor for obtaining either for the immediate or more objectives for social change. Struggle that needs to be more and more pronounced, particularly at European level, where it now plays a big part of our future.

11. There are alternatives Placing the development and growth in the center of economic policy. Extending the deadline for reducing the public deficit; renegotiation of the debt with the extended deadlines, reducing costs, discussion of funding and amounts. Stop the policy of "devaluation and social regression": - Why are the workers who suffer most from the impact of a crisis that was not responsible - and economically counterproductive, because the focus on strengthening competitiveness of the low costs of labor and not by the quality of products, only accentuate the decline of the country. Implement a development program led to investment in the manufacturing sector and its modernization, called the reduction of costs; facilitating access to credit for micro, small medium enterprises, the enhancement of public services, as the guarantor of the social functions of the state, abandoning the privatization process of strategic sectors for the Portuguese economy. Defend and promote democratic local government, decentralization.

12. There are alternatives Tackling fraud and tax evasion and social security contributions. Withdrawal of proposals to amend the labor law to the private and public and improve collective bargaining. Promoting stable employment and rights, against precarious work. Increased purchasing power of wages, pensions and of the minimum wage. Improve social protection.

13. FIGHTING AGAINST AUSTERITY THE FIGHT GOES ON!