In statements to the Lusa agency, unionist Vítor Silva referred to the need for career progression and two other "extremely important" issues such as the "irregular schedules that are practiced in the Azores", defending the application of the 35-hour weekly schedule. "The other issue has to do with salary increases, hence the [concentration] in front of the official residence of the president of the Regional Government," said the leader of the Union of Workers in the Processing, Food, Beverage and Similar Industries, Commerce, Offices and Services, Hotels and Tourism, Transport and Other Services of the Azores.

The union advocates an increase in the increase to the regional minimum wage from 5% to 10% not only for Cofaco workers but also as a "way to benefit thousands of workers in the private sector".

"This measure, from the point of view of the impact on the regional budget, has a zero cost. All it would take is political courage," stressed Vítor Silva.

About 85% of Cofaco's female workers, out of a total of about 200 people, receive the regional minimum wage.

In the Azores, the minimum monthly remuneration has an increase of 5% compared to that established at national level, currently being 861 euros.

The union argues that it should be increased to 10%, stating that recent data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) are "demonstrative of the situation of poverty and social exclusion in the region", to which "low wages" contribute.

Vítor Silva also considered that the work of these women should be valued because "the employer itself recognizes (just go to the official website of Cofaco) that the added value of the product (tuna) has to do with the way it is manually worked, with skill and mastery" by the handlers.

According to the unionist, "by not having progression in their professional career, even if the union managed to negotiate a contractual proposal of 10 or 20%, 85% of Cofaco workers would not benefit from this increase because the professional category is not contemplated in the agreement".

Vítor Silva said that when these workers reach retirement age, "they are penalized because they have discounted their entire lives on the minimum wage", with "situations of people who work 40 years" in these conditions who "never progressed in the professional category".

According to the unionist, this "is a question of personal and professional dignity", and these workers "value the work they do, they like their work, but the company does not recognize it".

This is not the first form of struggle by Cofaco workers for their labor rights, with several strikes having already been held over the years.

Lusa requested, via email, a position from the Cofaco company on the workers' demands, but so far has not received any response.

Leia Também: Apoio à renda volta a abranger inquilinos com contrato alterado (Portuguese version)