“We have indications that Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, Guimarães Castle, Paço dos Duques, [Museum] Conímbriga, Alcobaça Monastery, and the National Coach Museum have closed,” Orlando Almeida, leader of the National Federation of Public and Social Employees’ Unions (FNSTFPS), told Lusa.
Employees of national museums and monuments are on strike today as part of a call by FNSTFPS for the holidays.
The union leader added that some sites partially opened using temporary workers, without specifying exact numbers.
“Basically, it’s a day of struggle similar to previous ones,” he stated, noting the strike was successful due to the disruptions caused.
“It’s positive, considering that some are facing constraints and that some places, due to their size, don’t require many staff—sometimes just one or two to remain open—it’s indeed another good day of action, a great day of struggle,” he emphasized.
Orlando Almeida reiterated that new requests for meetings will be made with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and Museums and Monuments of Portugal.
The strike was called during Easter, set to last until December 31 this year, to demand better pay for work on holidays and overtime, which workers deem insufficiently compensated.
So far, the FNSTFPS stated there has been no response from the authorities to the workers’ demands.
In April, the union leader indicated to Lusa that the federation met in March with the former Minister of Culture, Dalila Rodrigues, and the management of Museums and Monuments of Portugal: “There was neither willingness to negotiate nor any proposal” from the authorities.
According to Orlando Almeida, museum, monument, and archaeological site employees under public authority receive approximately 15 to 20 euros on holidays, which represents “half of a normal day’s pay,” and they are compensated for only up to two overtime hours, although they often work beyond that total time.
In the 38 national museums, monuments, and palaces managed by Museums and Monuments of Portugal, including the National Palace of Mafra, Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower in Lisbon, and the Convent of Christ in Tomar, around one thousand employees are currently working, estimated Orlando Almeida.
Lusa contacted Museums and Monuments of Portugal via email about the strike and the possibility of opening negotiations with workers earlier in the week, and the entity responded through the communication department: “At this stage, we have no additional comments to make.”
In 2023, the 38 sites managed by Museums and Monuments of Portugal attracted more than five million visitors.
