The government has already responded to Wednesday’s general strike, playing down its overall impact. Even so, the late afternoon was marked by scuffles outside the Assembly of the Republic, where one of several demonstrations against the labour law was taking place on this day of nationwide stoppage.
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According to the newspaper Observador, three people were arrested and handcuffed by the Public Security Police (PSP) following clashes between officers and demonstrators. Several rubbish bins were also set on fire, and the authorities ordered the protesters to leave the area, an order that was ignored.
After the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said the walkout ‘did nothing more than harm a lot of people’, while stressing that he did not thereby wish to ‘call into question the exercise’ of that right.
He gave examples, in comments reported by CNN Portugal (source in Portuguese): ‘Many of the children whose schools did not open, many of the young people who could not sit exams because the conditions were not in place, many Portuguese who had consultations or planned operations and were unable to have them, some who could not travel to their workplaces because there was no transport, were truly harmed by this strike.’
Earlier, at a news conference at around 11.30 a.m., Labour Minister Maria Rosário da Palma Ramalho said that ‘the overwhelming majority of workers are at work’ and that therefore ‘the country is functioning normally’.
According to the minister, provisional data from CIP (the Portuguese Business Confederation) showed that ‘in the private sector participation is absolutely minimal and in some areas non-existent’.
In a detailed rundown of sectors, she started with industry: ‘all factories are operating’, she said.
In retail, ‘the doors are open’; in banking, ‘there are no branches closed’; and in tourism ‘there is no disruption, not even in travel agencies’ – despite disruption at airports due to cancelled flights.
The minister also said that private hospitals are ‘operating normally’, while acknowledging ‘higher participation’ in the public sector.
However, despite greater unrest in the public sector, Maria Rosário Ramalho insisted that ‘services are being maintained’ and reiterated that ‘the government listens to everyone and fully respects the right to strike’.
This interpretation by the government clashes with the statements made by the secretary-general of the CTGP-IN (General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – National Intersindical), Tiago Oliveira, who said that ‘the figures point to a major strike’.
Early in the afternoon, Tiago Oliveira spoke to reporters, highlighting some industrial companies in the private sector where there was 100% adherence to the strike, such as DS Smith-Leiria, Saica, Sovena and Cedial.
The union leader also pointed to strong participation in some companies in the construction, ceramics, cement and glass sectors.
Contrary to what the minister said, the trade union confederation reported significant impacts at private hospitals in the Lusíadas group in Amadora and Lisbon, at the Cuf Hospital in Sintra and at Hospital da Luz in Lisbon.
In transport, Tiago Oliveira cited 100% adherence at the Lisbon Metro, Transdev Viseu and the Urban Transport Company of Guarda and the urban transport network of Covilhã, as well as ‘Carris workshops with 98% participation; Soflusa/Transtejo, 85% participation; and CP running only minimum services’.
‘The aim is to denounce the labour package; it is to have the labour package withdrawn,’ said Tiago Oliveira outside Nuno Gonçalves primary school in Lisbon in the morning. The school was closed because of the general strike.
‘For ten months workers have shown that they do not want the labour package, and the prime minister (Luís Montenegro) has shown arrogance and a lack of respect for workers,’ he added.
Hospitals affected since yesterday
The general strike brought an almost total stoppage on the night shift in hospitals of the National Health Service (SNS).
According to the National Federation of Unions of Public and Social Service Workers (FNSTFPS), participation by SNS workers in last night’s strike ranged between 95% and 100%, underscoring strong opposition to the labour package.
The impact of the walkout was felt in various health units across the country. São Francisco Xavier Hospital, part of the Lisbon West Local Health Unit (ULS Lisboa Ocidental), and São José Hospital, within the Lisbon East Local Health Unit (ULS Lisboa Oriental), both reported 100% adherence to the strike. At Santa Maria Hospital, also part of ULS Lisboa Ocidental, adherence was 90%, while at Vila Franca de Xira Hospital, in the Tagus Estuary Local Health Unit (ULS Estuário do Tejo), it was 71%.
In Porto, there was full participation in the strike at the Viseu Dão Lafões ULS hospital and at São João Hospital. The Portuguese Oncology Institute in Porto reported 90% adherence.
The Bissaya Barreto Maternity Hospital and the University Hospitals campus, both part of the Coimbra Local Health Unit (ULS de Coimbra), also saw a total stoppage by their workers. At Santarém Hospital, in the Lezíria Local Health Unit (ULS da Lezíria), adherence to the strike reached 74%.
According to SIC Notícias, outpatient consultations at Portalegre Hospital are not taking place, although minimum services are being guaranteed.
This is the first time that workers on the SNS24 (source in Portuguese) helpline have joined a general strike, meaning it may be harder to speak to a health professional via this telephone service today. Waiting times could even reach three hours. The walkout comes at a time when the SNS24 line is already under intense operational pressure.
Schools closed on the day of the 6th year Portuguese exam
Many schools across the country are also closed, which is affecting the Portuguese exam for 6th year pupils, scheduled for this Wednesday.
Speaking to SIC Notícias, the secretary-general of FENPROF, José Feliciano da Costa, said there was ‘significant participation’ in the strike in Sintra, Olivais, Fundão, Coimbra, Moita, Castelo Branco and Mafra. He argued that the education minister’s decision not to postpone the exam shows that ‘the tests do not matter’ and ‘can be held on any other day’.
Almost 190 flights cancelled, metro at a standstill and river links suspended
As for international flights, almost 190 have been cancelled so far at the airports of Lisbon, Porto and Faro.
On the website of ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (source in Portuguese), at least 43 arrivals have been cancelled at Lisbon airport and 46 departures. At Francisco Sá Carneiro airport in Porto, 29 arrivals and 27 departures have been cancelled. In Faro, 21 arrivals and 23 departures have been called off.
The Lisbon Metro (source in Portuguese) is also at a standstill, as there is no minimum service. On the Porto Metro (source in Portuguese), which has four lines out of service – Green, Red, Violet and Orange – only the Blue and Yellow lines are operating.
On the Tagus River, the Transtejo (source in Portuguese) ferry service linking the two banks has had several routes suspended. CP – Comboios de Portugal (source in Portuguese), for its part, is expecting disruption to train services.
More than two dozen companies around the country have also suspended their activities.
The Labour Code stipulates that, in the event of a strike, minimum services must be ensured in companies or establishments that provide essential services to meet urgent social needs. These include postal and telecommunications services, medical, hospital and pharmaceutical care, public hygiene and health – including funeral services – as well as energy and mining services, notably fuel supply.
The stoppage stems from protests against the proposed reform of labour legislation, also known as ‘Trabalho XXI’, put forward by the PSD/CDS-PP government and which entails more than 100 changes to the Labour Code.
The package was discussed in the framework of the Social Concertation forum, but the government led by Luís Montenegro failed to reach an agreement with the social partners, prompting CGTP-IN to go ahead with the pre-announced strike notice.
Story being updated
