Approved unanimously

Nothing is inevitable! With the transforming struggle of the workers and the people, and a stronger and more active PCP, resist and move forward along the path of the April Revolution.

Exposing the logic that is inherent to its true nature, capitalism and the political forces that represent it never miss an opportunity to intensify the exploitation of the workers and peoples, in their quest for a greater accumulation and concentration of wealth.

Today, we are faced with an institutional balance of forces that better favours big capital. We have a PSD/CDS government with a programme to further the right-wing policy, which is shared by Chega and IL (as was evident in the State Budget for 2025, which, in a deliberate political move, PS allowed to go through). We have a new ‘Tripartite Agreement’ signed at a meeting of the Social Concertation Standing Committee by the government, the bosses’ associations and UGT. In addition to this reality, we once again have: the fulfilment of the interests of economic and financial groups and multinational corporations; the threats of regressions in the rights of those who work or have worked; the lack of answers and solutions to the problems of the workers, the people and the country.

It is the workers that produce all the wealth, but its distribution is increasingly unjust. Ten percent of the workers are poor, and this is unacceptable!

Low wages; the degradation of careers and professions; precariousness; the deregulation of working hours; lay-offs that have been made easier and cheaper; the termination of collective bargaining agreements; the failure to reintroduce the principle of most favourable treatment for workers; are, among other aspects, signs of an increased exploitation of the workers. This worsens their living standards, creates a deep sense of insecurity about their future, and undermines constitutional rights and guarantees.

But nothing is inevitable and there is nothing that cannot be changed! Today, as yesterday, the unity and struggle of the working class are vital and irreplaceable in improving their living and working conditions. Struggles have been carried out in industries, companies and workplaces; in the service sector; with stoppages and strikes; and on the streets, with the decisive role of CGTP-IN and the United Trade Union Movement (MSU) that it congregates. These are struggles that reached high points of convergence and unity in action, expressed in major events of struggle such as May 1st, the commemorations of the 25th of April - with special emphasis on the 50th anniversary of the Revolution - or other large-scale demonstrations, that reveal the working masses’ organized strength and determination.

Capital seeks to instill conformism, to promote individualism, to delay the growth of workers’ social and political awareness, and to stop their organized and coherent struggle. It seeks to weaken CGTP-IN and MSU and to divide the workers, pitting against each other men and women, young and old; those with precarious contracts against those with permanent contracts; those in the private sector against those in the public sector; natives against immigrants - everything serves that purpose. But exploitation affects everyone. What is needed are initiatives advancing demands that can respond to common problems and ensure unity of action.

The unity of the workers based on their class interests is the permanent goal and task of Communist militants in the workplaces and in the broad-based structures of the workers where they act, with concrete proposals that can respond to the just aspirations of the working masses.

Intensifying and expanding mass struggles is a central issue in these times. Communists need to contribute to strengthen the MSU, to unionize and put forth demands based on acquaintance with the concrete reality and on a regular and active presence in workplaces, even where there is, as of yet, no unionization or trade union organization. They must listen to and contribute to enlighten, mobilize and unite the workers; to encourage confidence and determination in the struggle to overcome immediate problems, against exploitation, and for the alternative that is necessary for the workers, the people and the country.

This path requires a stronger PCP with more influence, based on close ties with the workers and the masses, on energizing and organizing the struggle in response to their problems and aspirations; on resisting and fighting to transform and overcome the right-wing policy, paving the way for patriotic and left-wing policy, for higher wages and pensions, to defend public services, to defend national sovereignty, for peace and cooperation between peoples, and for a society freed from exploitation.