The strike organized by Carris workers has yielded “a highly positive outcome given the minimum services mandated,” Manuel Oliveira from the National Union of Drivers and Other Workers stated. The union has chosen not to disclose adherence percentages to avoid disputes over figures with the company. “Participation is as high as usual, and it’s a response to the erratic behavior of the company, which schedules negotiations but fails to provide follow-through or solutions,” Oliveira added.
Oliveira also appealed to the company and the Lisbon City Council for a resolution, emphasizing that “such circumstances harm those reliant on public transport.”
Following a week of partial work stoppages, Carris workers have resumed their protests with a 24-hour strike, demanding a reduction of the workweek to 35 hours, a measure set for implementation by 2025. The unions representing Carris workers, which operates the public bus service, electric trams, and street elevators in Lisbon, organized a two-hour walkout at the beginning and end of every shift between June 2 and 6. An additional 24-hour strike was held today, with minimum services decreed by an arbitration court.
Mandatory services include the exclusive transport of disabled individuals and company medical posts operating at “50% of their normal service.” Specific bus routes, such as 703, 708, 717, 726, 735, 736, 738, 751, 755, 758, 760, and 767, must also adhere to this reduced service requirement.
On May 13, the National Union of Drivers and Other Workers stated that the agreement on salary updates would not conclude negotiation processes. They, together with the company, intend to form “working groups aimed particularly at the phased reduction of work hours to 35 hours weekly.” According to the union, there has already been a reduction to approximately 37 hours and 30 minutes of actual work per week, a fact acknowledged by all parties involved after some delay, with the first meeting for work hour reduction held on April 30.
Since 2017, Carris has operated under the administration of the Lisbon City Council. The workers are represented by multiple union bodies, including the SNMOT, the Road and Urban Transport Workers’ Union (STRUP), the Transportation Workers Union (Sitra), the Services Sector Workers Union (Sitese), and the Carris and Participated Companies Workers Union Association (ASPTC).
