An assembly organized by the Tax Workers Union (STI) is being held from 9 AM to 1 PM, necessitating the temporary closure of services at local tax offices from their opening hours, as professionals are participating in the meeting digitally at their workplaces.
By around 11 AM, an official source from the union reported that at least 47 tax offices were closed, indicating there might be additional closures yet to be accounted for.
The closed offices include those in Alcobaça, Alcochete, Almada 3 (Costa de Caparica), Aljezur, Amarante, Amares, Aveiro 1, Aveiro 2, Albergaria-a-Velha, Barcelos, Beja, Braga 1, Braga 2, Espinho, Estarreja, Guimarães 1, Guimarães 2, Famalicão, Marco de Canaveses, Vila do Conde, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Viseu, Vizela, Sever do Vouga, Vagos, and Vale de Cambra, according to the union.
The union also anticipated disruptions at ports, airports, and other customs offices throughout the morning, with the Covilhã customs delegation reported closed.
Today’s disruptions follow a general strike on Thursday, which the STI supported but did not formally join, as the specific issues of special inspection careers were not addressed, according to the union.
In a statement today, the STI explained that the assembly was called because the government has failed to honor commitments made to the union, has not adequately valued inspection careers, and has forced workers into a confrontation deemed unnecessary.
The union accused the government of failing to regulate the special career regime for tax and customs management and inspection that was supposed to incorporate a permanent evaluation model for these careers since 2019.
This system was established with the publication of Decree-Law No. 132/2019 on August 30, but the necessary regulation has not been implemented.
The STI denounced the non-fulfillment of commitments related to Decree-Law No. 132/2019 and its associated regulations, highlighting a lack of dialogue from the government led by Luís Montenegro and an absence of a negotiation schedule.
The union emphasized that it sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance in November demanding the urgent opening of a promised negotiation table, reaffirming that the current situation is unacceptable and must not be ignored, yet it remains awaiting a response from the Ministry to immediately schedule discussions.
On October 31, the union sent a memorandum to the President of the Assembly of the Republic demanding urgent regulation of this permanent evaluation system to establish a career acceleration mechanism for workers.
In today’s statement, the STI maintains a “responsible and constructive stance” to negotiate with the government, asserting it will not relinquish its mission to “defend workers, value inspection careers, and ensure fiscal justice as an essential pillar of social cohesion.”
