At Lisbon international airport, a large number of flights were cancelled as pilots, flight attendants, and baggage handlers went on strike. Although the airport remained open, it was mostly empty.
The national carrier TAP Air Portugal operated only 63 out of 283 scheduled flights, adhering to the minimum service level mandated by law. The airline had previously informed passengers about the strike and offered to rebook them on alternative flights.
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The two labor organizations, representing nearly a million Portuguese workers, claim this could be the largest walkout in over a decade as they oppose the centre-right government’s proposed alterations to employment laws.
The unions argue that these changes undermine workers’ rights, while the government contends they are necessary for making the economy more flexible and fostering growth.
The modifications being proposed include easing the process for companies to terminate workers, restricting the right to strike in more sectors, and limiting breastfeeding breaks for mothers to just the first two years of a child’s life, as opposed to the current indefinite allowance.
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Lisbon’s downtown area was unusually quiet, with minimal foot traffic and light vehicular movement compared to a typical weekday, as some individuals participated in the strike while others stayed home to avoid transportation disruptions.
Train and bus services throughout Portugal operated on a limited schedule. The Lisbon Metro announced that service would pause at 11 PM on Wednesday and would not resume until Friday morning.
Private businesses were also impacted, with manufacturing and distribution companies reporting walkouts. Several stores in Lisbon were closed.
This marked the first collaboration between the umbrella groups—the General Workers’ Union and the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers—since 2013.
The government’s Minister for the Cabinet, António Leitão Amaro, claimed the strike had minimal effect on the private sector, stating, “Most Portuguese are at work.”
However, unions that organized street marches in the afternoon declared the strike a success.
“We are witnessing workers demanding that the government retract this labor reform package,” said Tiago Oliveira, head of the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers. The strike “reflects the government’s aggression and is a response from the workers.” Portugal has one of the smallest economies in the European Union, and its workers are among the lowest paid in the 27-nation bloc. The average monthly wage is approximately 1,600 euros ($1,870) before tax, according to the National Statistics Institute, while the minimum wage for hundreds of thousands of workers is 870 euros ($1,018) prior to tax.
Many Portuguese citizens are facing a housing and cost of living crisis, with rising property prices and inflation hovering just above 2%. The European Commission projects Portugal to achieve GDP growth of about 2% this year, surpassing the EU average of 1.4%. Unemployment remains below 6%, roughly matching the EU average.
Social Democrat Prime Minister Luis Montenegro labeled the strike as “senseless,” asserting that the country is performing well.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
