EUROPE

Setúbal dockers sign new labour agreement

7 years ago

Stevedores at the Portuguese Port of Setúbal have unanimously approved in principle a new collective bargaining agreement, which should bring labour stability to what had become a hotspot of unrest over the past six months.

The agreement will see 56 new stevedores join the existing compliment Photo: Vasco Neves Dias/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

Setúbal had been able to benefit from similar unrest at the Port of Lisbon, only for its own workers to then follow its colleagues in demanding better conditions.

The deal, which was negotiated by the Sindicato dos Estivadores e da Actividade Logística (SEAL) trade union and the employers’ association, will see 56 new stevedores join the existing compliment, earning an agreed gross salary of €1,400 per month.

In future contracts, a further 80 casual workers will be given priority treatment in negotiations.

The LUSA news agency quoted António Mariano, president of SEAL, as saying that this agreement is “advantageous for workers” and will contribute towards establishing social peace in the Port of Setúbal.

However, this is dependent on “employers complying with what was agreed”.