Portugal’s Two Main Unions Set 11 December Strike to Disrupt Transport, Schools

Portugal’s two largest union confederations are preparing the first joint general strike in more than a decade. Set for 11 December, the action targets the Government’s proposed labour overhaul, known as “Trabalho XXI,” and could halt trains, close schools and slow public offices nationwide unless talks in the coming weeks yield a compromise.

Snapshot of what is at stake

Public transport operators are already drawing up emergency timetables; school directors warn of classroom interruptions; hospital managers expect delays in non-urgent care. At the centre of it all sits the new labour bill, which unions brand “regressive,” and a negotiating table that has produced more rhetoric than results.

Why this strike matters now

For residents used to the ritual of autumn labour disputes, the significance of this walkout lies in its unprecedented UGT-CGTP alliance. Although ideological rivals, the two confederations have found common cause in their opposition to what they call an employer-friendly rewrite of the Labour Code. Their cooperation has amplified expectations of a high participation rate, especially in transport, education and civil service jobs that touch everyday life. The strike date, falling just before the busy Christmas travel period, increases the leverage—and the potential inconvenience.

What unions want changed

Union leaders argue that Trabalho XXI gives companies disproportionate freedom in areas such as the individual “bank of hours,” fixed-term contracts, subcontracting and procedures for collective dismissal. They also warn that the draft weakens the right to organise by tightening rules on workplace meetings and reducing paid time for shop stewards. “There is no balance,” says Mário Mourão, secretary-general of the UGT, who insists that at least some of the contested articles must be withdrawn before the strike can be reconsidered.

Government reaction and the political arena

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro calls the walkout “incomprehensible” and urges negotiators to return to concertação social. His cabinet points to concessions already offered—most notably the restoration of three holiday days tied to attendance—as proof of goodwill. The debate has spilled into Parliament: the Iniciativa Liberal claims a one-day stoppage punishes commuters more than employers; socialist and communist MPs counter that the draft law echoes austerity-era rollbacks. Meanwhile, PSD-affiliated unionists, while voting for the strike, keep nudging the Government toward a deal that would neutralise the showdown.

How daily life could be disrupted

Expect rail stations to operate on skeleton services and Lisbon’s metro to run only during the legally mandated minimum periods. Municipal rubbish collection may slow, and parents could face school closures if support staff walk out. Previous nationwide strikes have shown that the airport ground-handling sector can become a bottleneck, so airlines are advising travellers to monitor schedules and consider rebooking. Utility services are unlikely to cease entirely but may see delayed customer support.

Economic stakes and business concerns

Employers’ federations calculate that a single day of paralysis drains €200 M from output, mainly through lost manufacturing shifts and deferred retail sales. The Confederação do Turismo de Portugal fears reputational damage just when winter tourists begin arriving, while the Chamber of Commerce worries about investor confidence in a country pitching itself as a stable near-shoring hub. Yet some analysts note that Portugal’s economy has weathered past stoppages without lasting scars, provided negotiations eventually resume.

What happens next

Formal talks resume on 19 November, with another session pencilled in for 10 December—less than 24 hours before the strike. Union officials say they will decide that night whether to proceed or, in a more dramatic twist, extend the walkout to 48 hours. Government aides insist “the door remains open,” but as of now both sides appear entrenched. For the public, the countdown has begun: contingency plans may soften the blow, yet the true cost will be measured in cancelled meetings, missed classes and the health of Portugal’s fragile labour détente.