Aljustrel: 8 April 1960. Protest for dismissal takes 130 miners to the Fort of Peniche.
It was on this day 8 April, There 56 who gave occupation of Aljustrel mine and the headquarters of the National Miners' Union in protest against the dismissal of workers.
Near 150 miners from Aljustrel, in protest against the dismissal of workers, occupy the mine during 1 day and a half, at the same time as their relatives occupy the headquarters of the National Union of Mineiros. Police intervention sends it to Peniche Fort 130 workers.
In a work published in the magazine “Immense South” and coordinated by Jo茫o Honrado and Miguel Patr铆cio some of the events that led to the dismissal are described, protest, and detention of workers in the Aljustrel Mines.
Among the various documents published on the events, the names of the 23 dismissed workers, in 9 May 1959, whose company note and names we reproduce here:
“Note from the dismissed staff for purposely reducing normal work income at the Algares Mine. Were 23 the dismissed workers. Here are their names: Manuel L. rents, Jos茅 L. Lopes, Joaquim D. Lamprey, Ant贸nio F. Pea, Jos茅 A. Benedito, Florival F. Pea, Manual C. Estevens, Francisco da Silva Batalha, Jos茅 Ant贸nio Galope, Ant贸nio Godinho Escoval, Manuel Nobre Valente da Luz, Jos茅 Amaro dos Santos, Manuel Ant贸nio Guerreiro, Miguel Silva, Ant贸nio Eduardo, Jos茅 Francisco Guedelha, Virg铆lio Rosa Ant贸nio, Joaquim Ant贸nio Gato, Manuel Pereira Carrasquinho, Manuel Fragoso, Jos茅 Vaz da Gra莽a, Manuel Ant贸nio L煤cio and Joaquim Ant贸nio do Nascimento”.
The book “Aljustrel miners - (Vol. 2)”- Documentary Collection of your Organization and Fight, by Ana M. G. Patrick, describes in detail the struggle of the miners, highlighting here an important chapter of those times: 10 - THE STRIKE OF 1960 OF THE MINERS OF ALJUSTREL. Workers fired in 1959, The awakening of the day 8 April 1960, dismissals and work stoppage, The prisoners, The release of prisoners, The last worker to leave the Union on the Strike of 1960 and Various reports by local and government officials about events.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
