The Association of Portuguese Judges has called off the strike set for October 3rd and 4th, due to an "openness of parliamentary groups to discuss grievances in full," according to union boss, Manuela Paupério.
"The management met on Tuesday and we were pondering this situation and we decided to cancel the strike. We understood that it was better not to strike at this time," said Paupério, commenting that "sometimes it is more courageous to retreat than persist."
"It is clear that we had reasons for the strike, which remain valid, but in view of the openness of MPs, we will expect them to honour the word they have given us that the issues will be discussed in total," said the president of the Trade Union of Portuguese Judges
Manuela Paupério wants career paths to be defined, as well as pay and conditions, subjects that they had tried to negotiate with the then Justice Minister, Paula Teixeira da Cruz, then the current one, Francisca Van Dunem, with the same result – the minister did not want to discuss these issues that, for the judges, is crucial.
The union met the PS parliamentary group, with Manuela Paupério later commenting that she had observed "a great openness" from the MPs to discuss the status of judges and complex salary issues.
What really annoyed the judges’ union was Paula Teixeira Cruz, the former Justice Minister in the Passos Coelho government, who introduced the ‘new judicial map’ and the CITIUS computer programme which flopped on launch.
"The minister lied. She said the judges had made a salary demand for x amount - this was not true. It had nothing to do with our proposal, absolutely nothing. She said that we had reached for the sky and called us ambitious, and disregarding the situation of the country," said Union Secretary-General, João Paulo Raposo, adding,
“If you ask the ten best law students what course they want to follow, not one of them wants to be a judge."
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