More than 1,000 employees of MEO/Altice are expected to leave the company by mutual agreement, retirement, or early retirement by December 31, according to a statement from eight unions.
Altice has been contacted for further comment on the matter.
The statement from the unions highlights instances of pressure and intimidation to force employees into leaving, citing examples like 66 workers being reassigned to less qualified roles with fixed hours, foregoing previously flexible schedules.
The company has stated that it is unaware of any such pressure on employees to participate in the voluntary leaving program.
Parallel discussions have been mentioned, with salary negotiation talks for 2026 expected to commence either in late November or early December. The unions are currently drafting a proposal with economic justification to be presented soon.
Unions argue that significant salary increases are overdue and should not be postponed under the pretext of productivity or economic uncertainty, as seen with zero raises in 2025.
Additionally, union representatives have urgently requested meetings with all parliamentary groups to address concerns about nearly 700 retirees from the former Marconi, who risk a 15% reduction in their pension value due to the depletion of the Special Improvement Fund (FEM).
The unions were informed by the Secretary of State for Social Security about the establishment of a working group to address this issue.
The statement was signed by the Sindicato Nacional dos Trabalhadores das Telecomunicações e Audiovisuais (Sinttav), Sindicato Nacional dos Trabalhadores de Correios e Telecomunicações (SNTCT), Sindicato dos Trabalhadores de Telecomunicações e Comunicação Audiovisual (STT), Sindicato Democrático dos Trabalhadores dos Correios, Telecomunicações, Media e Serviços (Sindetelco), Sindicato das Comunicações de Portugal (Sicomp), Sindicato Nacional dos Quadros das Telecomunicações (TENSIQ), Federação dos Engenheiros (FE), and Sindicato de Quadros das Comunicações (Sinquadros).
