On December 11, workers in Portugal launched a general strike that ground parts of the country to a halt. Flights and train services were severely disrupted, schools were closed, and many hospital procedures were postponed amid nurse walkouts. Workers took part in demonstrations and picket lines in at least 10 cities, including Lisbon.

The strike — the largest of its kind in the country since the 2013 eurozone debt crisis — was called by the General Confederation of the Portuguese Worker (CGTP) and the General Union of Workers (UGT). Workers are protesting Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s reactionary overhaul of labor laws. His center-right government claims the more than 100 labor-code reforms will boost productivity and economic growth, attracting investment. In reality, the measures weaken many labor rights and make employment more precarious by allowing employers to fire workers more easily.

The working class of Portugal is rearing its head after years of neoliberal attacks that have forced workers to pay the price for capitalist crises. The recent strikes and mobilizations, including huge demonstrations in Lisbon last month, show that workers have the power to force the bureaucratized union leaderships to call for radical action. The key to this fight is unity from below, with the working class, youth, and social movements striking together until the government’s policies are defeated.

The post In Photos: Workers in Portugal Stage General Strike to Protest Reactionary Labor Reforms appeared first on Left Voice.

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