The day isn’t over yet and we all know the script, repeated over and over again. On the one hand, euphoric unions clamoring that the “country has stopped”; on the other, the Government and bosses ensured that adherence was “residual”.
The truth, as always, lies in the gray area. The general strike was hostage to specific sectors of the “professional strikers” and if, in fact, some more joined, life continued, as always. Of course, the teachers couldn’t miss the call, just like the CP workers, who have the real power to leave a large part of the country on foot (even though teleworking is taking away their ability to disrupt production).
But there are red lines that cannot be crossed. Images of pickets physically blocking electrical outlets (or “surface meters”), preventing their progress, are unacceptable. It is necessary to understand, once and for all: the right to work and free movement has, at least, the same value as the right to strike. Blocking other people’s lives is not a labor fight, it is coercion.
Either way, the timing of this shutdown is disastrous for several reasons. At a time when changes to the Labor Code are still being negotiated, trying to stop production is just shooting yourself in the foot. What almost no one wants to discuss is how the European bloc is losing global relevance in innovation (see how in the AI Architects, Time magazine’s Personalities of the Year, not a single European company is mentioned) and, internally, Portugal pretends that none of this is happening. Here, anemic growth is celebrated, but as is known – but it bears repeating over and over again – even Romania has already surpassed us in GDP per capita at purchasing power parity. Paralyzing the country in this context is not defending rights; is to worsen the delay.
Frankly, I believe the “real country” ignored, or tried to ignore, the shutdown. Most people went to work or did so. The litmus test was at my doorstep: on a day when the country should have been idly by, CTT and GLS delivered the orders that, coincidentally, had been promised for that day (Oh Christmas…). The same was seen in local businesses, which I found with their doors open. After all, those who pay the bills don’t have the luxury of stopping.
Also in DN, some journalists, photographers and designers they were working, not to mention the technicians needed for both paper and digital editions, so that the information about the strike itself reached you. If everyone had done like those who joined “the fight”, it would not have even been reported, at least in good time…
But maybe none of this matters. We are a country used to discussing issues at random, without rigor in numbers – except in the complex combinatorial calculations that most already know how to do when qualifying for the national football team or their favorite club is difficult. For everything else – including the future of our economy and, inevitably, that of our children, and our reforms – the discussion will continue to be: a lot of noise, little clarity and the country setting its own pace.