The aviation workers’ unions Sitava and STHAA have announced a strike alert covering mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Region of Madeira, scheduled from midnight on December 31, 2025, to midnight on January 1, 2026.
According to union representatives, SPdH employees currently face uncertain futures regarding their rights and work conditions, following a preliminary report by the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC). The report places the Clece/South consortium at the forefront in the competition for ground handling service licenses in categories 3 (baggage terminal), 4 (cargo), and 5 (ramp services).
The government has extended the existing licenses until at least May 19, 2026.
Sitava and STHAA stated that since the release of the preliminary report, SPdH employees have been plunged into a state of indeterminate ambiguity and anxiety concerning their futures. This situation is deemed intolerable, particularly in the aviation sector, implicating over 3,700 direct jobs (2,888 in Lisbon, 482 in Porto, 207 in Funchal, 137 in Faro, and 29 in Porto Santo).
The unions detailed that if ANAC decides to award the licenses to Clece/South, the implementation of establishment transfers will be negated, according to government communications. Furthermore, there is the potential for TAP to pursue self-handling in Lisbon (and possibly Porto), which could lead to a workforce split among several companies, again without applying establishment transfer protocols.
The contact between the unions and Clece/South revealed no current opportunity for a written commitment to employment security or rights, as the companies are unaware of how workforce selection or division would occur among the categories 3, 4, and 5 in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro.
Additionally, it was highlighted that the SPdH licenses for Funchal, Porto Santo, and passenger service categories 1 and 2 in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro remain valid until April 2031. The current tender involves 2,070 of the total 3,743 workers, impacting only those workers with potential establishment transfer.
The unions argue the legitimacy of SPdH workers fighting to preserve their jobs and rights, ensure the respect of their company agreement, uphold the integrity of collective bargaining, and safeguard their personal and professional dignity.
The strike action aims for a solid written guarantee that regardless of any final ANAC decision on scale assistance licenses in categories 3, 4, and 5, in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro, SPdH workers will retain their employment and rights as outlined in collective contracts and subsequent agreements planned for 2026.
