Transport company workers protest
21/11/2009

Around twenty employees at SCOTTURB, a Cascais transportation company, held a protest on November 12th accusing their company of demoting one of its employees unfairly, because he refused to pay for stolen items after being robbed on his bus.

Having worked as a driver for SCOTTURB for over ten years, David Ferreira ceased to carry out his usual functions after he refused to pay €800, from his own pocket, for the losses his bus sustained when it’s tickets were robbed. “The lady counted the money at the end of my shift and asked if I wanted to pay for the tickets that were stolen from me, but I refused because I believe it is the company’s responsibility to pay for them. I did not steal them and she said that if I did not pay the company would demote me to parking vehicles” said the employee.

Since the incident, in September 2008, the employee has not been working as a driver and currently parks and fills up the vehicles, receiving €200 less per month in wages.

The Road and Urban Workers Union (STRUP) organised the protest in order to denounce the intimidation by the company of its employees. Luís Oliveira, manager of STRUP, said the union will also be delivering a motion demanding “more safety, better control of the routes and better working conditions.” According to the manager, the drivers that could not join the protest worked throughout the day with their buses lights turned on, as a sign of protest against the situation their colleague is in.

Edition: 1037

Interactive Topics, send us your comments/opinion on this article. Name: Email Address: Location: UK USA Açores Alentejo Algarve Beiras Lisbon Porto Madeira Other.. Telephone: Your Opinion: