en 
In the last five days of the easyJet cabin crew strike, Mariana Mortágua went to Lisbon airport to show solidarity with workers, criticising the airline for preferring to “cancel flights and affect its operation rather than meeting with workers and providing working conditions”.
“It is necessary to tell easyJet that Portugal is not a second-class country. You cannot arrive in Germany, France or the United Kingdom and pay your workers two thousand, three thousand, four thousand euros and then arrive in Portugal and, for more working hours pay a minimum wage or pay a salary of one thousand euros”, she considered.
In the opinion of the BE leader, in addition to the airline, “the Government has responsibilities”.
"The Government cannot allow a company of this size, with this responsibility, after having taken over Portela's 'slots', to treat its workers like this and, above all, to break the law, and to go against the law in terms of the right to strike", she said.
For Mariana Mortágua, it is necessary to “increase the wages of these workers” and the cabin crew on strike “are absolutely right”.
It is necessary “to make a challenge to the Government to mobilize with easyJet, to comply with the law and to put pressure on easyJet to know that Portugal is not a second-rate country. You have to pay living wages here,” she emphasised.
The BE coordinator also stated that it has to be rejected that Portugal is “a low-wage economy”, considering that easyJet is an example of this type of economy.
“A big company, which arrives in Portugal, which says it is a flagship company, which sets up shop at Lisbon airport, which gets 'slots' that were from TAP and then pays its workers' unworthy wages”, she criticised.
Mortágua also condemned the “inflexibility regarding the strike” by the company, which it accused of “coercing workers not to strike, of using illegal methods to try to prevent the effects of the strike”.
The president of the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC) had today urged easyjet to present a proposal “at least workable” to the cabin crew, on strike since Friday with 90% adherence.
“No one takes a strike lightly. We are sorry for the inconvenience we are causing passengers. It is important that the company realises that with this wear and tear it is not going anywhere and is harming all parties involved and that it presents a serious proposal that we can say is workable”, said Ricardo Penarróias.
Speaking to the Lusa agency, in the last five days of the strike, which led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and calls, the president SNPVAC regretted that the company "has chosen to leave the negotiating table", ensuring that the union and workers are available to resume dialogue.
“The company left the negotiating table. We never go out. We hope that after the strike, the company presents a proposal closer to what we want”, he said.
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Maybe not second class, but unfortunately 100%`second world.
By John Harley from Lisbon on 26 Jul 2023, 11:59
Ms. Mortágua would do well to note that all wages are (and should be) set by the market for supply and demand of labor. If someone wants to work for 4 euro per hour and that is their choice, we should let them. They are adults and free to walk away. Private contracts are woven into the nation's laws and provide for freedom of choice in many such things such as sexuality, speech, and commerce. When government constrains one of those freedoms, we risk eroding the rest of them. When government tries to manage businesses, then businesses go elsewhere. Please stay out of it, Ms. Mortágua!
By Brian Sanders from Other on 26 Jul 2023, 23:14
If Portugal does not wish to be treated like second class, perhaps the Portuguese government and the Portuguese voters should stop acting like second class. Portugal literally makes zero decisions about anything, but awaits orders from Brussels. If that's not the exact definition of second class, I don't know what is. No first class country on earth, takes orders from unelected foreign bureaucrats! Because let's make one thing very clear: as lovely as Portugal is, nothing here is first class. Except for seafood. That's the only thing that is truly first class here. Everything else is a fight, a battle, a never ending waiting time, lies, theft, more lies, more waiting, more fighting, and then whatever it is you're waiting for or paying for, still hasn't been done. And if has been done you have been charged triple. Because you're just a 'dumb foreigner' who doesn't realise that the brilliantly clever Portuguese is over charging you.
This isn't confident Switzerland, innovative Taiwan, entrepreneurial Israel or relentlessly hard working South Korea. All small, all fiercely independent and super high achievers, all relying on talent and brains, rather than natural resources. That's how you propel a country into the first class. Not by wagging a finger at Easy Jet and reprimanding, while your country still lives in the dark ages.
The Portuguese people need to stop blaming outsiders and foreigners for all their problems and start addressing the real culprits in the room: the Portuguese government and the people who keep voting for the same exact thing over and over again, expecting a different result. But one needs self awareness, courage, introspection and honesty for that. Not sure the Portuguese are ready for that.
By Hart from Lisbon on 27 Jul 2023, 10:29
Discussed to read some of the comments from people I can only assume are expats making a lot more money. The PT government is at fault and so is the airline that I personally and my company blacklisted years ago.
If you don't want to be part of positive change, I would hope you feel free to leave on an Easyjet flight.
By George Oiesvold from Other on 27 Jul 2023, 11:42
Wages are dictated by the market.
I empathise with the hard-working Portuguese who are undoubtedly underpaid in most instances.
However, the fiscal burden on companies in Portugal and the high cost of doing business in terms of bureaucracy are largely result of an extractive state apparatus.
Make no mistake, the oh-so-woke BE leader would never suggest lowering the insane tax burden on workers; it's far too easy to lay the blame at the feet of the private sector.
Collective bargaining is fundamental to a free society, and the workers need to agitate for better conditions where they can.
However, they would also do well to vote for better economic freedom.
By Quentin Ferreira from Lisbon on 27 Jul 2023, 20:09
George Oiesvold made the only intelligent and fair comment regarding the article. The other commentators forgot they have glass roofs. Hypocrisy at its best, a level of Hypocrisy of first world that is.
By Nuno Carvalho from UK on 27 Jul 2023, 23:00
EasyJet is a cheap a horrible, cheap, second class airline. If you want proper service and schedules, proper treatment from an airline and while at the airport/onboard, fly a proper airline.
As for Portugal, our government is slow, incompetent and behind the times. It needs a large change, but it will not happen. So on we go with horrible responses to the most basic things, things often beneficial to Portugal.
By Ricardo Silvez from Algarve on 28 Jul 2023, 16:56
The people in the comments are extremely negative. If you don't like Portugal, nothing is keeping you here. Leave.
By Jeff BB from Beiras on 30 Jul 2023, 18:04