Lisbon metro stopped due to partial strike with 24-hour strike planned for Thursday
Lisbon Metro workers are carrying out another partial strike this Tuesday, between 05h00 am and 09h30 am for most workers, and between 09h30 am and 12h30 pm for administrative staff.
The response to the partial strike by Lisbon Metro workers was high at 6h50 am on Tuesday, with all stations closed, Anabela Carvalheira, from the Transport and Communications Trade Union Federation (FECTRANS) told Lusa.
Lisbon Metro workers are carrying out another partial strike this Tuesday, between 05h00 am and 09h30 am for most workers, and between 09h30 am and 12h30 pm for administrative staff, with service expected to resume at 10h15 am.
Because of the strike, Carris, managed by Lisbon City Council, will boost services on four of its bus routes due to the two Metro strikes scheduled for this Tuesday and Thursday.
“Due to the Metro strike, we will reinforce the following routes: 726 on the Pontinha Metro – Estefânia section; 736 on the Senhor Roubado – Marquês de Pombal and Campo Grande – Cais do Sodré sections; 744 on the Oriente – Restauradores section; and 746 on the Sete Rios – Marquês de Pombal section,” Carris said on Friday.
A 24-hour strike is scheduled for Thursday for most workers, so “it is expected that the transport service will close from 11h00 pm on November 3 [Wednesday], and reopen at 06h30 am on November 5 [Friday].
“If minimum services with train circulation are decreed, the company will evaluate if it can reopen the service between 12h00 am and 01h00 am on November 05 [Friday],” Metropolitano de Lisboa said on Saturday in a statement.
The unions representing Metropolitano de Lisboa, E.P.E. workers have presented strike pre-notices for Tuesday and Thursday to protest against the freezing of salaries and demand the immediate filling of the operational framework and career progression.
The Lisbon Metro said last week that it is “open to discussing the proposals put forward by the unions, which will be subject to negotiation”.
Metro workers held two partial strikes on 26 and 28 October which, according to FECTRANS, were well attended. According to the transporter, on the 26th the strike had a 42.62% adhesion and on the 28th, 45.37%.
On Monday, Metro de Lisboa workers began a 10-day renewable overtime strike against the wage freeze, for the replacement of staff and for career progression.
The workers held partial strikes at work in May and June, with the same claims put forward for the new strike.
The partial strike in the metro coincides with a 24-hour strike by workers at Rodoviária de Lisboa bus company, in a week when the capital hosts the international event Web Summit, which began on Monday and ends Thursday.
