Portugal braces for two-day postal strike
Mail will go undelivered on Wednesday and Friday in Portugal as employees of loss-making state postal firm CTT strike against plans to reduce staff and privatize some services, postal workers’ union SNTCT said. The union, which represents some 17,000 postal workers, said in a statement the job action is a protest against “the handing over of postal offices and services to the private sector, the reduction in staff levels and the elimination of benefits.”
As Thursday is a national holiday in Portugal, normal postal services will only resume on May 5.
CTT President Carlos Horta e Costa said Tuesday the company, which posted a 32.5 million euro (35.9 million dollar) loss last year, will reduce staff in 2003 through early retirement and by not renewing temporary contracts in an effort to reach breakeven this year.
He added the postal firm will reduce the number of outlets it operates on its own and will operate more joint-ventures with the private sector.
CTT currently operates some 1,000 postal offices across Portugal and has some 2,000 employees on temporary contracts. It is one of Portugal’s main employers.
The firm has been hit by declining mail traffic and falling revenues as e-mail and private express mail services have gained popularity.
