General strike, march in Lisbon (12/11/2025)
Several hospitals had 100% compliance, according to unions. The FNSTFPS speaks of adherence above 95%, but the Minister of Labor emphasizes that the majority of the private sector is operating.
The general strike called by the CGTP as protest against the proposed change to the CLT This Wednesday caused severe constraints in several essential sectors, with a special impact on Health, Education and Transport.
The Government was unable to reach an agreement in Social Concertation on the labor package, a circumstance that led the trade union central to move forward with the national strike. Despite the strike, there were minimum services ensured in sectors considered essential to satisfy urgent social needs.
The National Federation of Workers’ Unions in Public and Social Functions (FNSTFPS) indicated that the adherence varied between 95% and 100%.
The general secretary of CGTP-IN (General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – Intersindical Nacional), Tiago Olivera, told journalists this morning that “the numbers point to a major strike“.
“The objective is report the employment packageis the withdrawal of the labor package. For 10 months, the workers showed that they do not want the work package and the prime minister showed arrogance and lack of respect”, he said in protest in front of the Nuno Gonçalves basic school, in Lisbon, which closed because of the strike.
SNS24 on strike for the first time
The unions indicate that several hospital units registered maximum membership levelsincluding the São Francisco Xavier Hospital, the São José Hospital, the São João Hospital and the ULS Viseu Dão Lafões Hospital.
In Coimbra, the Bissaya Barreto Maternity Hospital and the University Hospitals Center also were completely paralyzed. At Santa Maria Hospital, adherence reached 90%, while in Vila Franca de Xira it was 71%.
A greve also affected the SNS24 linewhose workers joined a general strike for the first time. The shutdown could cause prolonged waiting times, at a time when the service is already facing high operational pressure.
Schools closed, 190 flights canceled
In the Education sector, dozens of schools remained closed in various regions of the country, affecting the taking the 6th year Portuguese test. The general secretary of FENPROF, José Feliciano da Costa, stated that there was a “significant adherence” in several municipalities, criticizing the Ministry of Education’s decision to keep the tests on the scheduled date.
Transport was another of the most affected sectors. At Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports, almost 190 flights canceledbetween arrivals and departures. The Lisbon Metro was stopped because it did not have minimum services decreed, while in the Porto Metro only the Blue and Yellow lines operated normally. Transtejo’s river connections also suffered several suppressions.
According to CP, of the 550 scheduled trips, only 157 were carried out, which means that they were 71.5% of trains removedaccording to the status of the company as of 12:00 p.m.
Andante store workers also joined, “in a unprecedented action in 24 years of existence of the Andante service”, pointing not only to labor law, but also “the situation of prolonged precariousness and the growing fear of closure of in-person service spaces” as justifications.
“The country is working”, says minister
In a statement by journalists, the Minister of Labor guarantees that “the country is working” and that the membership in the private sector is “residual” or even “null” in some areas.
“In the industrial sector, all factories are workingin the main areas, textiles, footwear, metalworking”, guarantees Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho.
“A general strike is serious in itself. In any case, in relation to the results we are having, the strike seems to have significantly little support, especially in the private sector, the sector to which this legislation will be primarily applied”, he stressed, adding that “We will then draw the conclusions that need to be drawn“.
The Government guarantees that there is no disruption to the tourism sector, commerce and transport of goods, as well as to private hospitals. “Compared to the last strike in December, adherence was lower“, he defends.
In the public sector, particularly in transport and education, the balance is not so positive. “Several transports had suppressions“, but “minimum services were ensured”, says the minister.
“Education is a major concern for parents, especially for parents of students who had a Portuguese assessment test. Around 40% of students were unable to take the test”, acknowledged Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho.
