The Lisbon Metro announced today that the arbitration court did not decree minimum services for the partial strikes planned by metro workers for Tuesday and Thursday, and the service will only open from 10:30 am.
In a statement, Lisbon Metro reminds that the unions representing the workers have issued a strike notice for September 9 and 11, from 5:00 am to 10:00 am, meaning transport services will be affected during this period.
The company states that it “immediately” initiated negotiations with the workers’ representative organizations, having presented two agreement proposals “seeking to balance the arguments presented by the workers with the company’s management objectives and the promotion of productivity, in accordance with legal determinations regarding the increase in the wage bill for the year 2025.”
Lisbon Metro also mentions that it filed a well-founded request with the Arbitration Court for the definition of minimum services, intending to ensure the continuation of train circulation during strike periods, considering “the relevance of the public service” it provides to the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.
However, the arbitration entity did not decree the proposed minimum services.
The company states that during the period leading up to the strike, it “promoted, and will continue to promote, dialogue with the unions, aiming for an understanding that allows the suspension of the aforementioned strike” and hopes for a “structural and lasting understanding,” noting that a new workers’ assembly is scheduled for 3:00 pm today.
Lisbon Metro workers announced a week ago the holding of partial strikes on September 9 and 11, due to “lack of responses to their demands.”
The strike will run from 5:00 am to 10:00 am for operational workers, from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm for workshop workers, from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm for static and administrative sectors, and from 2:00 am to 7:00 am for night and service track workers.
The demands include an increase in meal, vacation, and Christmas allowances and changes in the maximum weekly working hours.
Lisbon Metro operates daily on four lines: Yellow (Rato-Odivelas), Green (Telheiras-Cais do Sodré), Blue (Reboleira-Santa Apolónia), and Red (Aeroporto-São Sebastião).
Normally, the metro operates between 6:30 am and 1:00 am.
