Portugal postal workers strike over privatisation

Striking Portuguese postal workers scuffled with police during a protest against the privatisation of national mail company Correios de Portugal SA (CTT).

Picketers attempted to stop postal vans leaving a major Lisbon distribution centre and officers moved in to clear the way. Portugal’s Communist Party has accused the police of using excessive force.

The Portuguese government is selling off stakes in national companies – as it makes efforts to reduce government debt as part of the 78 billion euro international bailout package it secured in 2011.

Lisbon is looking raise more than 400 million euros from selling 70 percent of CTT.