The National Union of Drivers and Other Workers from Horários do Funchal will be attending a plenary meeting tomorrow.
Under discussion is the proposal for a salary update in view of the increase in the regional minimum wage approved by the Regional Government, as well as the reduction of working hours from the current 39 to 35 hours per week.
Speaking to JM FM, Manuel Oliveira, coordinator of the union, states that the minimum wage in Madeira had “an increase of 7.67%,” however, Horários do Funchal employees only received a maximum of 4.6%. Therefore, they want employee salaries to be rectified and their hours reduced.”
This Tuesday’s plenary aims to address the reduction of the weekly working day. Manuel Oliveira points out that Horários do Funchal was the first company in the state’s business sector, in the area of collective passenger transport, to go from 40 to 39 hours a week, “but the 39 hours was not an end. The 39 hours was just the beginning of a process and this process will only end when we reach 35 hours.” Only then, understands the trade unionist, will there be an “equivalence to workers with other workers in the public sector.”
Concluding, Manuel Oliveira hopes that “we can achieve our goals through dialogue.”
The plenary will take place tomorrow between 10:30 – 14:30, so bus schedules between this time may be affected.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
