CGTP Calls National Strike for April 17 — Construction Unions Join Mass Walkout Against Government Labour Package

A Full-Day Walkout

Portugal's largest trade union confederation, the CGTP-IN, has called a national strike and mass demonstration for April 17 — a full-day walkout running from midnight to midnight — in what is shaping up to be the most significant industrial action the country has seen since the government introduced its controversial Trabalho XXI labour reform package earlier this year.

The demonstration will begin at 14:30 at Saldanha and march to the Assembleia da República, where union leaders plan to deliver a message that the government can no longer ignore: withdraw the package, or face sustained disruption.

CGTP Secretary-General Tiago Oliveira described the proposed labour legislation revision as "a profound setback for all workers" and called for "a collective effort" to make April 17 "a great moment of struggle and affirmation."

Construction Sector Joins the Front Line

The strike gained significant momentum on April 6 when the Portuguese Federation of Construction, Ceramics, and Glass Unions (FEVICCOM) — which represents tens of thousands of workers in one of the economy's most labour-intensive sectors — announced it would join the action with a full 24-hour national strike.

For construction workers whose shifts begin before midnight on April 16 or end after midnight on April 18, the strike extends to cover the entire shift — a provision designed to maximise participation in a sector where work often begins before dawn.

FEVICCOM's decision is significant. Construction is Portugal's most visible barometer of economic activity — from the cranes dotting Lisbon's skyline to the infrastructure projects funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan — and a work stoppage could delay projects already under pressure from rising material costs and labour shortages.

What the Government Is Proposing

The Trabalho XXI labour package, which the government has framed as a modernisation of employment law, includes several provisions that unions argue will erode decades of worker protections:

• Extension of fixed-term and indefinite-term contracts — giving employers more flexibility to hire on temporary terms
• Non-reinstatement in cases of wrongful dismissal — meaning workers fired without just cause could receive compensation but not get their jobs back
• Individual working time accounts — allowing employers to vary weekly hours without overtime pay, provided the annual average balances out
• Revocation of group working time accounts — removing the collective bargaining mechanism that unions currently use to negotiate working-time arrangements
• Changes to minimum service requirements during strikes — a provision unions see as a direct attempt to limit the effectiveness of industrial action

The CGTP's National Council has described these proposals as "onerous norms" that must be revoked, arguing they represent a transfer of power from workers to employers at a time when the cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets.

UGT Already Said No

The April 17 action comes just days after Portugal's second-largest trade union confederation, the UGT, voted unanimously on April 9 to reject the same labour package. The UGT is traditionally more moderate and more willing to negotiate with centre-right governments — making its unanimous rejection a significant political signal.

With both major union confederations now formally opposed, the government faces the prospect of pushing through labour reforms without any social partner support — a politically risky strategy that could galvanise broader opposition, including from the opposition PS, which has also signalled reluctance to back the package in parliament.

What Comes Next

The CGTP has left the door open to further escalation. Union leaders have hinted at the possibility of a general strike if the government proceeds without meaningful concessions — a step that would represent the most dramatic labour confrontation since the austerity era of 2012–2013.

For now, all eyes are on April 17. The breadth of union participation — from construction and ceramics to public services and hospitality — will determine whether this remains a warning shot or becomes the opening salvo in a longer campaign.

Workers, employers, and the government itself will be watching how many Portuguese decide to stay home.