Waste collection and the operation of schools, financial services and hospitals were disrupted Friday in Portugal by a 24-hour strike demanding “immediate wage increases”, according to unions.
“Discontent is general,” Sebastiao Santana, coordinator of the Common Front of Public Administration unions, told local media, calling on the government to “respond immediately.”
The strikers also demanded a “curb on commodity prices” to counter inflation, as well as “taxation of extraordinary profits” for large groups, according to a union press release.
The strike movement, which began Thursday night through Friday, is taking its toll on garbage collection, while schools and many administrative departments that welcome the public have been out of action.
Railway traffic was again affected by a partial strike of railway workers, which began a week ago. About fifty trains were canceled between midnight and 8 am (local time), according to a report by Portuguese Railways (CP).
This day of mobilization precedes a national demonstration scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Lisbon for the “general increase in wages and pensions”.
