19 December Strike Threatens Transport, Schools and Hospitals Across Portugal

Commuters, parents and patients spent the weekend hoping last week’s turmoil was behind them. It might not be. Independent labour groups are weighing a fresh stoppage for Friday, 19 December, raising the prospect of renewed slow-downs in transport, schools and hospitals only seven days after the headline general strike.

Five things to keep on your radar

• No nationwide call yet, but SITOPAS, SINDEPOR and smaller public-sector unions have signalled they could stage a one-day action.

• Transport disruption, if it happens, would again centre on the Lisbon and Porto metros, urban buses and some CP regional lines.

• Education closures are possible in pre-schools, basic and secondary schools, as well as university canteens that joined the 12 December protest.

• Hospitals could run on serviços mínimos only, with outpatient appointments and elective surgery the first to be postponed.

• Municipal services—rubbish collection, swimming pools, museums—may operate on skeletal staff, especially outside the major cities.

Why the rumour mill is still turning

Last Thursday’s 11 December greve geral, led jointly by CGTP and UGT, formally ended in the early hours of Friday. Yet several independent unions refused to sign off. They held a second day of action on the 12th and now argue that the Government’s draft labour reform remains untouched. Talks scheduled for mid-week with the Ministry of Labour will determine whether a new notice is filed. Until then, the phrase circulating in union WhatsApp groups is “paralisação de 24 horas se não houver avanços”—a 24-hour shutdown if negotiations stall.

Sectors most at risk of another standstill

Public transport

The Metro de Lisboa closed completely on the 11th, and contingency timetables covered only 25 % of Carris routes. If conductors walk out again, passengers should expect larger gaps between trains and fewer night-bus departures. Airport ground staff at Lisbon and Porto—who joined at a 90 % rate last week—have not ruled out sympathy action, meaning flight delays are a possibility even if TAP crews stay on duty.

Education

During the 12 December extension, union figures claimed 75 % of basic-education teachers and 90 % of university-canteen workers adhered. A new stoppage would coincide with the final week of classes before Christmas break, putting end-of-term tests at risk of postponement.

Health

Nurses under SINDEPOR recorded up to 100 % participation in some wards, forcing hospitals to run on emergency cover only. Should the same happen this Friday, oncology and dialysis sessions could again be rescheduled, while routine consultations face cancellation.

Municipal and central administration

From waste collection in Setúbal to tax offices in Braga, public-service employees belonging to SITOPAS paralyzed many counters last week. City halls warn they have limited capacity to reorganise shifts on short notice; residents may find council pools, libraries or bill-payment desks closed for the day.

What the Government and employers are doing

Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz has already asked transport operators for updated contingency maps and hinted at minimum-service decrees similar to those issued on the 11th. Large private employers say they will activate work-from-home protocols if commuting becomes chaotic. Retail and hospitality groups, largely untouched by the earlier strike, forecast a “manageable” impact but admit supply trucks could face delays along the A1 and A2 corridors.

Counting the cost—and who feels it

Economists still disagree on the bill from last week. Estimates range from €300 M in lost output to more than €600 M once indirect effects are tallied. Whatever the figure, the burden falls unevenly: parents scrambling for childcare, chronically ill patients coping with longer waiting lists, and low-income commuters who cannot afford taxis when the metro is shut. Union leaders counter that higher stakes—precariedade and weaker parental leave—justify the sacrifice.

Planning your week

A new strike notice must be filed at least five working days in advance, so confirmation—or cancellation—should land by Tuesday evening. Until then:

• Check operator websites after 21:00 daily for updated serviços mínimos.

• If you have medical appointments, call the hospital switchboard on Thursday.

• Arrange tele-study options for children in case the school doors are locked.

• Freeze perishables now; rubbish collection might not resume until Monday.

The picture could still shift. For now, the safest bet is to pencil Friday as a potential disruption day—and keep a plan B ready.