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Help Payday Go to Portugal to Cover Strike Wave Changing Austerity Debate

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Earlier this year, a reader helped arrange for Payday to go to Portugal, where we are going to cover the growing strike wave against austerity there.

As many of you know, I actually speak Portuguese pretty fluently from time in journalism school in Brasil.

After covering the teachers’ strike on the ground in West VirginiaOklahomaArizona,  North Carolina, and Virginia, I am excited to get overseas to understand how global public sector workers are changing the conversation in Europe.

In December alone, there were over 50 strikes in Portugal from workers in various sectors protesting austerity and privatization.

These strikes have served to effectively push an anti-austerity measure. As part of an EU financial bailout of Portugal in 2014, Portugal was forced to privatize many of its’ public institutions including the Postal Service.

This Wednesday in Lisbon, the Portuguese Parliament is expected to vote on legislation that would re-nationalize the Postal Service.

Payday Report is going to Portugal and going to primarily reporting, but I am also gonna check out some sites.

Unfortunately, a $1068 freelance check is late and I find myself facing budget pressure right before the trip. Fortunately, many of my readers have gotten my back to help cover the cost.

So once again, I ask for your help in telling a story that other publications may overlook: the wave of strikes gripping Portugal and changing the conversation on austerity.

Help Us Reach Our Goal

$587 / $1,068

  DONATE Here

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Mike Elk is an Emmy-nominated labor reporter. He founded Payday Report using his NLRB settlement from being illegally fired in the union drive at Politico in 2015. Email him at melk@paydayreport.com
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