Portugal Public-Sector Walkout Shuts Schools, Canteens, Waste Collection

Parents across the country woke up to a familiar dilemma: another day without classes and cafeteria meals. The second round of the public-sector walkout shut the gates of hundreds of schools, sidelined three in every four education workers, and rippled well beyond the playground.

At a Glance

• 75 % adherence in schools according to union tallies

• 90 % of university and polytechnic canteens closed

• Municipal rubbish collection suspended until at least Monday in several cities

• Nation-wide nurses’ stoppage adding pressure on hospitals

• Strike called by SITOPAS to protest the Government’s new “labour package”

Classrooms in the Dark

Hallways that would normally echo with end-of-term chatter were silent. In districts such as Porto, Setúbal and Viana do Castelo entire clusters of schools posted “encerrado” signs. The 75 % participation rate—higher than many recent teacher protests—covered teachers, administrative staff and auxiliary personnel, forcing principals to send pupils home shortly after the first bell.

Beyond the School Gates

The stoppage spilled into services that keep campuses running. Catering companies reported 90 % of refectories shut in higher-education institutions, leaving tens of thousands of students scrambling for lunch off-site. City councils in Lisbon, Braga and Faro confirmed that waste-collection routes would be skipped until crews return on Monday, warning residents to hold rubbish indoors to avoid overflowing bins during an unseasonably warm weekend.

What Workers Want

SITOPAS—and allied unions in health, culture and local government—say the Government’s 100-plus amendments to labour law “corrode” public-service careers. Key demands include:• Across-the-board pay rises above projected inflation for 2026• Faster career progression after lengthy freezes• A €9 meal allowance, matching private-sector averages• A penosidade e insalubridade supplement for physically taxing jobs• Retirement at 62 with 36 years of contributions for frontline rolesThe federation also seeks the creation of an auxiliary-education career track, arguing that schools rely on undervalued temporary staff to supervise children with special needs.

Government’s Countermove

Prime Minister Inês Figueiredo’s cabinet insists the reform will “streamline” the state and cut red tape. Officials highlight a planned extra €540 M for salaries in 2026 and point to last year’s deal that began returning frozen service-time to some teachers. Yet major players such as FENPROF and the CGTP dismiss the gesture as insufficient, pushing for full restitution by 2027 and guarantees against easier dismissals baked into the bill.

How Long Could the Disruption Last?

With Christmas break only a week away, unions calculate that extending partial strikes into January would keep pressure high while limiting wage loss for members. The Ministry of Education has not ruled out invoking minimum-service decrees—already used in health—to oblige a skeleton staff in essential school functions, though that tool has proven legally tricky in the past.

What Parents and Students Can Do

Local authorities advise families to monitor agrupamento websites before setting off. Some municipalities, including Coimbra and Évora, opened emergency study rooms in libraries. University students can check academica.pt for real-time updates on canteen openings and alternative meal vouchers valid in nearby restaurants.

Looking Ahead

Both sides return to the negotiation table next Tuesday under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. Mediators say a breakthrough hinges on linking pay increments to productivity goals—an approach already piloted in the tax authority. Until then, commuters can expect less frequent bus services, fuller household bins and, above all, the perennial Portuguese talent for last-minute improvisation.