The decision mandates 100% of flights on mainland and islands and 35% on international flights.
The strike, called by the Sindicato das Indústrias Metalúrgicas e Afins (SIMA) and the Sindicato dos Transportes (STA), spans various periods between 00:00 on September 3 (next Wednesday) and 24:00 on January 2, totaling 76 days.
The ruling, unanimously approved on Friday, determines “the execution of all ground handling services for each day of the strike during the entire strike period decreed by SIMA and STA for daily flights operated by airlines assisted by SPdH [Menzies Portugal’s corporate name], ensuring 100% of services to and from Mainland and Autonomous Regions and 35% of other destinations.”
The ruling highlights the “prolonged nature of the strike over time, spanning four months, covering weekends, which raises additional difficulties due to the nature of air transport at that time of the week, and including three strike periods longer than six consecutive days, notably the 15 consecutive days during the Christmas and New Year period.”
“A balance of interests is necessary, evaluating the importance of protecting rights and interests at stake, with certainty that the constitutional legislator, in the definition of the right to strike, did not configure this fundamental right of workers as an unrestricted right, being the definition of minimum services a limitation to its exercise.”
The STA issued a strike pre-notice, accusing SPdH/Menzies and TAP management of continuing to “ignore the real problems of workers subjecting them to miserable wages, not paying outstanding remuneration components.”
SIMA announced, mid-August, the scheduling of new strikes by workers of the company responsible for ground handling services, in alternating periods between September 3 and January 2, 2026, including long weekends and dates with high movement, such as Christmas and New Year.
Among the demands, the union requires the end of base salaries below the national minimum wage, payment of night hours, maintenance of rights such as access to parking, and compliance with the previously signed memorandum of understanding.
This new pre-notice by SIMA follows strikes held in July and August and the suspension of scheduled stoppages for late August, following contacts with the Ministry of Labor.
Menzies, on its part, ensured that the cancellation of the latest strikes “was not the result of any agreement, negotiation or concession,” asserting that its position “remains unchanged” and that there have been no alterations to commitments assumed until 2029.
The first strike will take place from 00:00 on September 3 until 24:00 on September 9, followed by another stoppage from September 12 to 15, September 19 to 22, and September 26 to 28.
In October, stoppages are scheduled from October 3 to 6, October 10 to 13, October 17 to 20, October 24 to 27, and October 31 to November 3. Further stoppages will follow from November 7 to 10, November 14 to 17, November 21 to 24, November 28 to December 1, December 5 to 8, and December 12 to 15.
The last one is planned from December 19 to January 2, 2026.
