Altice Workers Unions contests Lisbon court decision
The Áltice Group Workers Union decided to challenge a decision by the Lisbon court that considered an injunction to prevent the dismissal of an Altice employee transferred to another company in the group.
“The judge who analyzed our injunction in Lisbon had the same understanding as the one in Vila Real and downplayed the fact that a worker included in the collective dismissal is occasionally transferred, but we will contest this decision, as already announced to the Vila Real “, the president of the Altice Group Workers Union (STPT), Jorge Félix, told the Lusa agency.
The STPT filed four precautionary measures, in Vila Real, Porto, Lisbon, and Portalegre, to safeguard the situation of four Meo workers, covered by the collective dismissal of the Altice group, despite being in a situation of occasional transfer to other group companies.
Jorge Felix explained to Lusa that “the seconded workers cannot be fired, as they are allowed 90 days, after returning to the company, to terminate the contract”.
“As this was not fulfilled, we understand that these dismissals do not meet the legal requirements and, regardless of the process of challenging the dismissals, we will also challenge the decision of the judge of the Lisbon labor court, taking into account the opinion of our lawyers, that the classifies an extremely simplistic position, which devalues the occasional ceding of the worker, “he said.
The STPT is still awaiting the decision of the Porto court, judgment was held on the 9th.
The second session of the trial of Portalegre takes place on October 11, when the court will hear the president of Altice.
The union leader explained that the union filed precautionary measures so that the workers concerned could receive compensation from the company while the process of challenging the dismissal is underway, “since justice is slow”.
The law provides that the employee contesting a dismissal returns the compensation awarded by the employer.
According to Jorge Félix, it was the receipt of the slowness of justice and the financial difficulties that led around 200 workers from the Altice group to accept a contract termination.
The STPT is one of the unions that integrate the Altice Union Front, which has promoted several actions to fight and contest the collective dismissal that involves 204 workers of the group.
The collective dismissal process of 246 people, initiated on June 30 by Meo – Serviços de Comunicações e Multimédia, SA and PT Contact, was, however, reduced, mainly due to layoffs, leaving around 40 workers.
Workers have protested against this dismissal, having held a strike and various provisions and plenary sessions.