Porto Metro in total strike on New Year’s Eve

The Train Drivers’ Union announced a “total strike” in Metro do Porto operations on December 31st and January 1st. It requires payment of the annual premium not yet made to the operator ViaPorto, part of the Barraqueiro group.

In the days December 31st and January 1stmarked by the usual influx of public to the center of Porto for New Year’s Eve, and where the subway normally runs all night, the Porto Metro will be on total strike.

Workers represented by the Machinists’ Union (SMAQ) are on strike to carry out any and all work, the union told the Lusa agency this Friday.

However, the stoppage of Metro do Porto will not just stop at New Year’s Eve. It will also be noted on December 30th and January 2nd – days when workers represented by SMAQ will be on strike “to provide additional work”.

“Workers who on December 30, 2024 have scheduled a normal working period that exceeds 00:00 on December 31, 2024, are on strike from the scheduled start time of their normal working period until its end”, and those who “on January 1, 2025 have scheduled a normal working period that exceeds 00:00 on January 2, 2025”, are also on strike until the end of their shift.

Contacted by Lusa, the SMAQ union leader Hélder Silvaassigned to Metro do Porto, says that the reasons for the strike are the same as those that led to the strike that occurred between .

At issue is the failure to pay an annual premiumby the company, in this case ViaPorto, from the Barraqueiro Group, which operates the Porto Metro.

“We have a clause that requires the payment of an annual performance bonus that has to do with the performance of workers in their daily lives and their evaluation, and the company claimed losses and has not yet paid this bonus,” he said. Hélder Silva to Lusa on December 16th.

The union leader said although “a margin of tolerance was given of half a year for the company to pay the premium”, referring to 2023, something that, according to SMAQ, has not yet happened.

In the statement, SMAQ also claims the “improvement of working conditions claimed by workers at Viaporto, Lda. integrated into driving careers, with regard to non-duty trips”, full compliance with the Company Agreement and the regularization of compensatory rest periods.

Contacted by Lusa, ViaPorto says it took “the express care to inform the union that, currently, the ViaPorto’s financial situation is unbalancedas it is awaiting the outcome of the processes to restore the financial balance that depend on Metro do Porto SA and the Portuguese State”.