Strike in Portugal: hundreds of trains canceled

Hundreds of trains have been canceled in Portugal since Friday due to a rail strike. The strikers are demanding a boost in purchasing power to cope with rising prices.

Out of 427 trains running before 10 am (11 am in Paris) on Monday, 278 were canceled, according to a report from the Portuguese Railways (CP). However, the minimum service, corresponding to 25% of scheduled trains, allowed the impact of this movement to be limited.

Since the strike’s first day on Friday, the strike has already resulted in the removal of more than 1,100 trains, according to CP. This movement of rail workers will affect rail traffic “in the days leading up to and following strike periods” as well as January 1, the rail company warned.

Other industries went on strike over the weekend

“We understand that it is not possible to compensate for the loss of purchasing power,” but “we are asking for a surcharge to help us cope” with this year’s price increase, Antonio Pereira, head of the Independent Railway Workers’ Union (SINFB), one of the eight who called for to this mobilization. According to the trade unionist, who does not rule out new movements next year, the number of strikers rose to “nearly 80%” on Monday.

In addition to railroad workers, other industries are demanding higher wages. Call center or distribution and trade workers also observed weekend strikes.

“Inflation has reached levels not seen in three decades,” Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa acknowledged in his Christmas message on Sunday evening. He promised to do everything possible to continue to support households and the economy.