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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Portugal faces 'general strike' | Portugal faces 'general strike' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Public services in Portugal have been severly disrupted in an attempt by the country's largest trade union federation to call a general strike. | Public services in Portugal have been severly disrupted in an attempt by the country's largest trade union federation to call a general strike. |
| Lisbon's metro and river ferries are out of action, but commuter trains and some city buses are working. | |
| Rubbish left out for collection overnight is piling up, and some schools have cancelled classes. | Rubbish left out for collection overnight is piling up, and some schools have cancelled classes. |
| The strikers are objecting to public spending cuts, and reforms making it easier to hire and fire workers. | The strikers are objecting to public spending cuts, and reforms making it easier to hire and fire workers. |
| Some hospitals have delayed non-emergency surgery, but health workers, like many other public servants, are legally obliged to provide a minimum service. | Some hospitals have delayed non-emergency surgery, but health workers, like many other public servants, are legally obliged to provide a minimum service. |
| The private sector is reported to be largely unaffected. | The private sector is reported to be largely unaffected. |
| "This is a partial strike with limited consequences," Labour Minister Jose Vieira da Silva told reporters. | "This is a partial strike with limited consequences," Labour Minister Jose Vieira da Silva told reporters. |
| Low growth | Low growth |
| The General Confederation of Portuguese Workers is pitted against a centre-left government elected two years ago on a promise to modernise the country and halt its economic decline. | The General Confederation of Portuguese Workers is pitted against a centre-left government elected two years ago on a promise to modernise the country and halt its economic decline. |
| It failed to get the backing of the country's second largest union federation, which has accused it of putting party politics before the good workers and the population in general. | It failed to get the backing of the country's second largest union federation, which has accused it of putting party politics before the good workers and the population in general. |
| The BBC's Paul Legg says Portugal had the lowest rate of growth of any country in Europe last year - 1.3% - and that the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Greece and Malta have all overtaken Portugal in terms of GDP per head. | The BBC's Paul Legg says Portugal had the lowest rate of growth of any country in Europe last year - 1.3% - and that the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Greece and Malta have all overtaken Portugal in terms of GDP per head. |
| The government says its policies are already paying off, with the economy starting to grow at a healthier rate. | The government says its policies are already paying off, with the economy starting to grow at a healthier rate. |
| But strike organisers say these gains are at the expense of workers, as unemployment has risen to more than 8% - the highest figure for 20 years. | But strike organisers say these gains are at the expense of workers, as unemployment has risen to more than 8% - the highest figure for 20 years. |
| Its call for a general strike follows a series of protests marches over the past year culminating in a demonstration in Lisbon in December, which brought 100,000 people onto the streets. | Its call for a general strike follows a series of protests marches over the past year culminating in a demonstration in Lisbon in December, which brought 100,000 people onto the streets. |