Portuguese Communist Party denounces working conditions at ERSUC

The Coimbra branch of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) has issued a statement denouncing deteriorating working conditions at ERSUC, a waste management company. The party criticizes the current private management and is calling for workers to mobilize against what it describes as exploitation.

Key grievances cited by the PCP include low wages, threats to labor rights, and poor facility maintenance, such as recurring sewage issues. The party also highlighted extreme temperatures in sorting areas, which can reach 40 degrees Celsius in summer due to air conditioning failures, and safety concerns regarding overcrowded storage spaces.

Furthermore, the PCP raised environmental and public health concerns regarding the accumulation of urban waste and improper landfill disposal. The party also criticized the company’s pricing policy, noting that despite substantial profits, ERSUC has reportedly increased tariffs for municipalities by 160% without a corresponding improvement in service quality.