Thousands of people took to the streets of Lisbon, Oporto and 38 other places in the country, to commemorate the International Workers’ Day with the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP-IN), celebrating the results of the struggle and proclaiming that it will continue in order to achieve the expected change of policy.
In the year that marks the 130th anniversary of the Chicago occurrences, which were at the root of the International Workers’ Day, the Portuguese workers, in answer to CGTP's call, took to the streets on May 1st under the motto "Ahead with the Change - Defend, Restore and Achieve Rights!” Demonstrations, parades, concentrations, rallies, but also parties, fulfilling a tradition of Portuguese workers who resisted the onslaught of the fascist regime, completed the map of initiatives all over the country.
Jerónimo de Sousa, General Secretary of the PCP, who led PCP’s delegation participating in the demonstration held in Lisbon, commenting on the meaning of these May 1st. celebrations, stressed that "this May of struggle is also a May of rejoicing, celebration, confidence in the future" and recalled that "the Portuguese workers, with their four year long struggle, made a decisive contribution to the PSD/CDS government’s defeat“. This "was a struggle that, allied with the vote of the majority of the Portuguese, definitely removed this government and embarked on a new political solution that, contrary to what is said, does not stop or falter the struggle." "The political solution, the advances that took place, the restoration of rights, wages ... all this gave encouragement to continue the struggle" and "opened a window of hope to those who fought so hard", stressed the General Secretary of the Party, noting that the continuation of the struggle is necessary "because the advances, although important, and we do not underestimate them, are not enough, are limited."
In the commemorations of this May 1st. CGTP-IN launched a national week of struggle, from May 16 to 20, in which the Broad United Trade Union movement, at various levels, will strive to hold strikes, concentrations and demonstrations. The workers will thus, in unity, give more strength to the claims of wage increases, jobs with rights, defence of collective bargaining as an instrument of social progress, maximum 35-hour working week, repeal of harmful rules of labour legislation, and more and better public services.
