At issue are proposals that, according to the unions, introduce greater flexibility in hiring and firing, strengthen mechanisms for minimum services during strikes, and alter rules related to work organization and collective bargaining. The CGTP maintains that these changes represent a “setback” for labor rights and may contribute to increased job insecurity, while simultaneously reducing the capacity for union intervention within companies.
The union federation also accuses the government of pushing forward with structural reform without broad social consensus, emphasizing that the negotiation process did not address the main concerns raised by workers’ representative bodies. In this context, the general strike is presented as a means of pressure to reverse or modify the content of the legislative proposal.
Read more: The general strike is already having an impact today, with major disruptions to public transportation
Although the UGT’s participation has not yet been formalized, the strike is expected to affect various sectors of the public and private sectors, with anticipated impacts on areas such as transportation, healthcare, education, and essential services.
The protest comes at a time of tension between the government and unions over the labor relations model, with the CGTP arguing that the proposed changes could significantly alter the balance between workers and employers in Portugal.
