Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portuguese labor groups are vowing to keep up their fight against the government's privatization plans for public transport, as Lisbon subway staff walked off the job for the 43rd time in four years.
Workers at the Lisbon bus company Carris and national railroad company Comboios de Portugal, both state-owned, have also staged dozens of strikes since debt-heavy Portugal needed a 78 billion euro ($85 billion) bailout in 2011.
The public transport companies are deep in the red, and the government is trying to reduce public debt which is around 130 percent of GDP — the third highest in the European Union.
But many workers fear they will lose entitlements and benefits under private management.
The Federation of Transport and Communications Unions said Tuesday's 24-hour strike likely wouldn't be the last.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.