Public Sector Unions Set a National Strike for 20 November, Four Days Before the Final Vote on the 2027 Budget

Public administration workers across Portugal will strike on Friday 20 November, four days before Parliament's final vote on the 2027 State Budget. The Frente Comum de Sindicatos da Administração Pública (Common Front of Public Administration Unions), decided the national stoppage on Tuesday 27 October at a meeting held outside the Assembleia da República (Parliament), ECO and RTP reported, citing Lusa.

The meeting's resolution calls a "general strike of public administration workers" against impoverishment and the "destruction of public services". Coordinator Sebastião Santana said the target is a budget that "destroys public administration", and that the date was chosen for "a strike that can have consequences", not a mere protest. The final budget vote is set for 24 November.

What the unions want, and where the Government stands

Santana said the strike would be called off only if the Government negotiated the 83 proposals the Frente Comum delivered on 30 September. Its 2027 demands start with a rise of at least 15 percent (minimum 150 euros) for every worker, a lowest public sector salary of 1,150 euros from January, a 13 euro daily meal allowance and a 35-hour week for all.

There is no new pay offer. At the talks on 19 October the Government said it was still analysing every proposal with a cost, including pay and the meal allowance, and talks resume in early November, according to the STE union's account of the meeting, as we reported at the time. What stands is the multi-year deal signed in January with FESAP (Federação de Sindicatos da Administração Pública): a rise of 2.3 percent or 60.52 euros in 2027 and a 6.30 euro meal allowance, according to FESAP.

What it means for you

By Tuesday afternoon the Frente Comum had not published the strike notice setting out which services are covered. At the last national public sector strike, on 2 October, schools, Social Security counters and bin rounds were among the services at risk.

• Patients: under the Lei Geral do Trabalho em Funções Públicas (Lei 35/2014), medical and hospital services must keep minimum services, as must public health (including funerals), water supply, fire services and public counters meeting essential needs that fall to the State. If unions and employers do not agree those services within three days of the notice, an arbitration panel sets them.
• Parents: for schools, the law requires minimum services only for final assessments and national exams, not ordinary lessons. Watch for a notice from your child's school.
• Appointments: no source yet says whether Finanças, Social Security, AIMA or Loja do Cidadão counters will open on 20 November. If you have an appointment that day, check with the service first.

CP trains this week

Comboios de Portugal (CP), the state railway, warns of disruption on Friday 30 October, with possible effects on Thursday 29 and Saturday 31 October, because of the 24-hour strike by conductors, ticket-office staff and supervisors called by the SFRCI union, ECO reported on Tuesday. CP's notice, last updated on 22 October, is unchanged since our report that day. Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, international, InterRegional and Regional tickets can be fully refunded or swapped free: online up to 15 minutes before departure, or at a ticket office up to 10 days after the strike. On Tuesday the Conselho Económico e Social (Economic and Social Council) list of minimum service rulings showed none for this strike.