A strike has been organized by the Federation of Agriculture, Food, Beverages, Hospitality, and Tourism Unions of Portugal (Fesaht) and the Union of Services Sector Workers (Sitese). The action is scheduled to allow workers to participate in May Day celebrations.
The strike is expected to particularly impact certain units and companies, mainly in the afternoon, when most of the celebrations take place.
The disruption is anticipated to affect some hospital canteens during lunch hours, distribution services at various hospitals, and bar services on alpha and intercity trains. Given that today is a holiday, the hospitality and restaurant sectors might also experience minor disruptions, according to statements.
In a statement, Sitese announced a strike on May 1st, International Workers’ Day, affecting workers in the retail, office, and services sectors, particularly those in companies affiliated with the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED). This strike is set to begin at 00:00 and conclude at 24:00.
The protest aims to advocate for decent work conditions and fights against job insecurity. It also calls for salary increases, the defense of workers’ rights, and full compliance with collective bargaining agreements.
The strike notice issued by Fesaht covers workers across various industries, including agriculture, food, beverages, tobacco, forestry, hypermarkets and supermarkets, cleaning service providers and similar sectors, hospitality, tourism, restaurants, cafes and pastry shops, tourist boats, public and private campsites, rural tourism establishments, tourist entertainment establishments, spas, casinos, gaming rooms, bingo halls, football clubs, canteens and cafeterias, and licensed bars.
It also includes workers in services along highways and main roads, catering services in railway transportation, meal and bakery factories, pastry and confectionery, aircraft suppliers, private healthcare, private and cooperative education, private social solidarity institutions, charitable establishments, INATEL Foundation, Movijovem, and others similar establishments.
The goal is to enable participation in the demonstrations organized by CGTP-IN to mark Workers’ Day, advocating for a general increase in salaries and pensions, setting maximum prices on essential goods, taxing corporate profits, defending workers’ rights, supporting housing rights, and opposing the rising cost of living and exploitation.
According to the strike notice by Fesaht, demands include a 15% wage increase with a minimum of 150 euros per worker, an extraordinary increase in the National Minimum Wage to 1,000 euros effective immediately, a 50% increase for weekend work, and a 25% increase for work in split or shift schedules.
Other demands include granting two consecutive weekly rest days for all workers, an extraordinary increase in all pensions and retirements to restore purchasing power and ensure their appreciation, an increase in social support benefits, the repeal of “burdensome labor legislation provisions,” and the implementation of a tax on substantial profits made by large companies.
