Portugal’s biggest planned walkout in years will shut down parts of the country on 3 June as workers from across several sectors join a general strike against the government’s labour reforms. Airlines, trains and metro services are all expected to feel the impact.
Ricardo Penarróias said around 500 flights are expected to be cancelled, with Portugal’s flag carrier Tap Air, easyJet and Ryanair all likely to be affected, according to the union. The strike has been called by the country’s largest umbrella union, CGTP, and has also drawn in transport union FECTRANS, whose members include workers from the Lisbon Metro, Porto Metro and commuter rail Fertagus.
The walkout is aimed at labour changes unions say would make it easier for companies to dismiss employees and would remove limits on outsourcing. That gives the strike a wider reach than a standard pay dispute. It is not just about wages or hours; it is about the rules that govern how people can be hired, fired and replaced.
Airlines have already started moving to protect passengers. Tap said customers holding a ticket issued on 20 May for flights scheduled on 3 June can shift their trip to 27 May to 2 June or to 4 June to 11 June without extra charges. EasyJet said it expects some disruption to its flying programme and said it will do all it can to minimise the impact of the strike and contact affected customers with their options. It also said: “While this is outside of our control we are sorry for any inconvenience this strike action may cause.”
Ryanair took a different line, telling The Independent that it does not expect disruption and will operate as normal. A union representing pilots has decided not to join the strike, but that will not remove the pressure on the system if airport and ground operations are interrupted elsewhere. With public transport also set to be hit, the day is likely to be one of the most disruptive in Portugal in recent months. The real test will be whether the cancellations stay close to the union’s estimate or spread further into the morning and evening schedules.
