Schools closed, services slowed and flights cancelled: strikes hit Portugal

Three CGTP unions have called a strike for Friday, disrupting schools, public services, councils and rubbish collection. An easyJet cabin crew walkout is also causing flight delays nationwide. More than 350,000 public administration workers are covered by the strikes called by three CGTP-affiliated unions for this Friday in Portugal. The biggest effects are being felt in education, with dozens of schools closing their doors due to a lack of staff. "We have schools closed from the north to the south of the country, in the Azores and Madeira as well," explained Sebastião Santana, speaking to TVI. Outside the Francisco Arruda School in Lisbon, which kept its gates shut this morning, the coordinator of the Common Front highlighted the "strong turnout" for the protest. The union leader was speaking at the Francisco Arruda School in Lisbon, which did not open because of the 24-hour stoppage. The protest was called by the National Federation of Public and Social Service Workers' Unions (FNSTFPS), the National Union of Local and Regional Administration Workers, Public Companies, Concessionaires and Related Entities (STAL) and the Lisbon Municipal Workers' Union (STML), covering operational assistants, technical assistants and senior technicians. As well as school closures, the strike may also cause disruptions to social security services, registry and notary offices, the justice system and rubbish collection. The walkout may also have some impact on local health units and other bodies under the Ministry of Health. Dozens of people have gathered in Lisbon for a march between Praça da Figueira and the Ministry of Finance. The unions are calling for the immediate upgrading of these professionals' career structures. EasyJet: union reports strong support and hundreds of flights cancelled easyJet cabin crew launched a five-day protest action on Friday, with the strike continuing until Tuesday. The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC) reports strong participation and expects 80% of flights to be cancelled during the five days of stoppage. Speaking to the Lusa news agency, SNPVAC president Ricardo Penarroias said that 443 flights have already been cancelled for the coming days at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports. Also speaking to Lusa, an official easyJet source said it expects to operate around 55% of its schedule during the strike period, through minimum services and flights operated from other European bases. "The company will carry out the minimum services, which are compulsory, and the other flights it has not cancelled (...) are flights it will operate illegally," said the union president. The workers' demands include more stable rosters, pay progression based on seniority and the conditions proposed as part of the negotiations for the company agreement. A second stoppage has been scheduled for 19 to 23 December.