The workers of SPdH/Menzies have canceled their planned strike scheduled for various periods between September and January, citing a lack of conditions to exercise their right to strike following the imposition of minimum services, the union announced.
The strike by employees of Menzies (formerly Groundforce), a company handling ground services, was organized by SIMA – the Metal and Allied Industries Union, and the Transport Workers Union (STA). It was to cover several periods from midnight on September 3 to midnight on January 2, totaling 76 days.
The Arbitration Court of the Economic and Social Council decreed minimum services, with SIMA vocally criticizing the decision, arguing that “what was imposed are not ‘minimum services'” and claiming it obligates the operation of about 80% of normal operations.
Today, in a statement, SIMA announced the cancellation of the strike notice, stating that the conditions for workers to exercise their right to strike properly are not in place due to the Arbitration Court’s decision, which “results in a real attack on the right to strike for Portuguese workers in general and that company in particular.”
The decision required 100% completion of domestic and island flights and 35% for international flights.
Today, in a statement, SIMA announced the cancellation of the strike notice, reiterating that the conditions for workers to exercise their right to strike properly are not in place due to the Arbitration Court’s decision, which “results in a real attack on the right to strike for Portuguese workers in general and that company in particular.”
According to the Union, the Arbitration Court’s decision is “completely opposite to previous ones” and is based on “totally unreasonable evaluations and completely subjective criteria regarding the duration of the strike, neglecting workers’ rights and resulting in a decision worthy of a travel agency.”
“We know there is currently a will by our rulers to restrict this constitutional right of workers, but we cannot in any way go along with that position,” emphasizes SIMA.
In the Union’s view, “the whole process by which minimum services were decreed suffers from a breach of trust of workers in a structure that should accommodate the interests of everyone, not just a few.”
“It was with perplexity that we saw workers’ arbitrators (who were not chosen by them) turning into employers’ arbitrators, which is indeed unusual and very strange,” the union notes.
The Union also states that “other forms of struggle are already being considered” without specifying what they are.
SIMA had announced in August the scheduling of new strikes by workers at the company responsible for ground handling services, in alternate periods until January 2, 2026, including long weekends and high-traffic dates such as Christmas and New Year.
This strike notice from SIMA came after strikes carried out in July and August and the suspension of planned shutdowns for the end of August following contacts at the Ministry of Labor.
[Updated at 09:41]
