350,000 local, regional and central government employees are demanding higher wages and improvements to career structures.
On Friday, the National Federation of Public and Social Service Workers’ Unions (FNSTFPS), the National Union of Local and Regional Administration, Public Companies, Concessionaires and Related Workers (STAL), and the Lisbon Municipal Workers’ Union (STML) called a 24-hour strike across Portugal.
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The protest involves about 350,000 workers, including operational assistants, technical assistants and senior technicians in public administration at the local, regional and central levels, NOW Noticias explained.
“The unions are demanding an immediate revaluation of the professional careers of these workers — who, they claim, are ‘the lowest-paid in public administration’ — recognition of the specific nature of their professions and the immediate start of wage negotiations, without waiting until next year,” the Portuguese outlet reported.
In Lisbon, public employees will march from Figueira Square to the Finance Ministry, where a rally will be held with the participation of Tiago Oliveira, secretary of the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP-IN).
A greve da Função Pública começou à meia-noite e está a provocar fortes perturbações nos serviços públicos em todo o País. A paralisação, com a duração de 24 horas, abrange cerca de 350 mil trabalhadores das carreiras gerais da Administração Pública e faz-se sentir… pic.twitter.com/DmJqrlFqkd
— 24Horas (@24horaspt) October 2, 2026
The text reads, “The civil service strike began at midnight and is causing significant disruptions to public services across the country. The 24-hour stoppage affects approximately 350,000 workers in general public administration categories and is being felt particularly in the education, healthcare, justice, and local government sectors.”
The public-sector workers’ strike has recorded participation of more than 60% in local administration and reached up to 100% in some services, STAL President Cristina Torres said as she headed to the rally.
The union leader explained that the initial figures mainly correspond to the night shift in the waste collection sector, where some services remained closed, and said she still did not have overall figures for participation during the rest of the day.
The three unions that called the strike, which are affiliated with the CGTP-IN, are demanding an additional 15% wage increase, with a minimum of 150 euros per worker, as well as improvements in professional career structures.
“The government pretends to negotiate, but it does not negotiate anything,” Torres said, assuring that workers will continue mobilizing if the conservative government of Luis Montenegro does not respond to their demands.
In January, the Portuguese government and trade union organizations signed a wage agreement for 2026-2029 that this year raised the minimum base salary in the public sector to 934.99 euros per month and provides for further increases through 2029. Today’s protest coincides with another strike in Portugal’s health care sector, called to demand more hiring and professional improvements.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: NOW Noticias – EFE
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