The train service in Portugal remains halted for the third consecutive day due to an ongoing strike by machinists at CP – Comboios de Portugal. A union representative confirmed a full worker adherence to the strike action.
Why are there no minimum services?
The absence of minimum services during the CP strike is attributed to safety concerns for passengers. The Arbitral Tribunal clarified on Thursday that it did not impose minimum services for the strikes lasting until May 14, as the company indicated that operating at 15% capacity could not ensure the physical safety of passengers.
This clarification was issued following “various reports and controversies regarding the series of strikes at CP,” stated the Arbitral Tribunal of the Economic and Social Council in an official release.
What are the workers demanding?
The strike was called to oppose salary increases deemed inadequate in restoring purchasing power, advocating for collective bargaining for fair salary increases, and implementing the restructuring agreement of salary tables as negotiated and agreed upon, according to union sources.
The strikes on Wednesday and Thursday were organized by multiple railway unions, including the Association of Intermediate Supervisory Railway Operations (ASCEF), Independent Union Association of Railway Commercial Career (ASSIFECO), Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (FECTRANS), National Union of Transport Communications and Public Works (FENTCOP), National Railway Union of Movement and Related (SINAFE), National Democratic Railway Union (SINDEFER), Independent Union of Infrastructure Railway Workers and Related (SINFA), National Independent Railway Workers Union (SINFB), National Union of Transport and Industry Workers (SINTTI), Independent Union of Railway Workers and Related (SIOFA), National Union of Technical Frameworks (SNAQ), National Union of Railway Sector Workers (SNTSF), Railway Transport Union (STF), and Union of Metro and Railway Workers (STMEFE).
On Thursday, the Machinists Union (SMAQ) also joined the strike, remaining the only union on strike today.
The Itinerant Commercial Review Railway Union (SFRCI), representing conductors and ticket office employees, called a partial strike from 5:00 to 8:30 AM from Sunday to Wednesday (May 11 and 14). On Sunday and Wednesday, the strike will only impact long-distance trains.
For this strike, a 25% minimum service level has been decreed.
