The National Sergeants’ Association (ANS) is organising meetings with sergeants to discuss pensions, salaries and collective bargaining.

Several dozen sergeants attended meetings in different locations to discuss the three main topics that prompted these meetings.

The aim of these meetings was to listen, clarify, organise and mobilise for the fight to defend the social rights of citizens and workers in uniform.

Taking into account the decision of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) against the Portuguese state for violating two articles of the European Social Charter, which Portugal has ratified, and after the elections, with a new Parliament and a new government, during the summer, a more comprehensive initiative could be organised, with more or less public exposure, involving the three Portuguese military associations, all members of EUROMIL.

Regarding the pension system, it is unacceptable to have two soldiers on the same mission, where one is discriminated against in relation to the other, given the cuts planned for pensions in the future. A fair and equal system must be created for all military personnel.

The pay system is unfair, as well as being obsolete, and does not contribute to greater attractiveness and retention in the Armed Forces.

Following the decision of the European Committee of Social Rights, the ANS’s position is to defend the right to collective bargaining and the right to legal representation for members.

If these are two of the pillars for achieving better representation and defence of Portugal’s sergeants, then the ANS wants to move in this direction, in accordance with the ECSR decision.

All of the above issues were discussed at these meetings with the aim of debating, informing and mobilising.