Workers of Lisboa Cultura Deliver a Heartfelt 'Love Letter' in Protest for Fair Salaries

Workers' Protest at Lisboa Cultura

On this Valentine's Day, workers of Lisboa Cultura, the new identity of EGEAC (the Municipal Equipment and Cultural Animation Management Company of Lisbon), delivered a symbolic 'love letter' to the company's Board of Directors. This act was a protest against the lack of responses to their demands for better working conditions.

The letter, which drew inspiration from Álvaro de Campos' poem All Love Letters Are Ridiculous, emphasized the workers' frustrations. It included statements like, "Who loves, does not condemn us to worse lives. Who loves, brings justice to salaries" and "Do you want to negotiate salary with me?"

Luis Dias from the Lisbon Municipality Workers' Union (STML) explained that the initiative aims to deliver 200 love letters signed by employees to remind the administration of their unanswered demands, including salary increases, professional reclassification, and occupational health services.

Key Demands of the Workers

The main requests outlined by the workers include:

• 15% salary increase with a minimum of 150 euros, which has been persistently denied by the administration.
• Right to occupational health, neglected for over two years.
• Integration of temporary workers into permanent contracts.
• Fair treatment among employees performing similar roles but with unequal salaries.
• Respect for work-life balance, particularly concerning work hours.

Context of the Protest

Following a strike in November, the municipal culture company promised to meet with workers in January, but that meeting has yet to occur. The workers also called for an increase in hiring to address staffing shortages across various facilities managed by Lisboa Cultura, which oversees 24 municipal venues, including theaters, museums, and galleries.

The protest serves as a poignant reminder of the workers' commitment and their ongoing struggle for fair working conditions. Despite their dedication, they feel let down by the lack of attention to their labor rights. In November, the workers' strike resulted in temporary closures of several cultural sites, highlighting the impact of their demands on Lisbon's cultural landscape.