Employees are set to resume strikes on holidays throughout the year due to the lack of proposals from the government to address their concerns, as stated by the federation.
The union disclosed that a meeting took place on July 15 with the new Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, and the board of the public company Museus e Monumentos de Portugal (MMP). However, no response was given to the demands, with the current holiday pay rate for museum, monument, and archaeological site workers remaining unchanged.
Workers are demanding fair compensation for holiday work and overtime, which they claim is currently underpaid. They note that although they sometimes work beyond two hours of overtime, compensation does not reflect this additional effort.
“Employees receive negligible compensation that does not reflect the demands and responsibilities of their roles. They keep museums, monuments, and archaeological sites open on holidays, ensuring the safety of the heritage and smooth operation without even being granted compensatory rest,” the federation contends.
The statement highlighted that “in 2024, the 38 facilities managed by Museus e Monumentos de Portugal achieved ticket revenue of 21,217,432 euros,” primarily from “tourism and educational visits organized by schools, underscoring the central role of heritage in culture.”
They further argue, “For years, this problem has persisted without any decisive action from successive governments, whether PSD or PS, with or without CDS, to appropriately value holiday work.”
Nearly 1,000 employees work in the 38 national museums, monuments, and palaces managed by Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, including sites such as the Palácio Nacional de Mafra, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Torre de Belém in Lisbon, and the Convento de Cristo in Tomar, as estimated in April by union leader Orlando Almeida.
Holiday strikes have resulted in the closure of several museums and monuments across the country, including some of the most visited sites in Portugal.
