Nationwide Strike Paralyzes Portugal’s Transport and Grounds Dozens of Flights

Overview

• A general strike called by the CGTP on Wednesday, June 3 halted long-distance trains, stopped metros in Lisbon and Porto, closed schools and put hospitals on emergency-only duty, producing widespread public-service disruption.
• Airlines reported hundreds of cancellations and delays with at least 11 Brazil–Portugal flights canceled and carriers offering rebooking or refunds while TAP ran a reduced schedule under serviços mínimos.
• Protests outside the Assembly in Lisbon escalated after the strike ended and the PSP used batons to disperse demonstrators, leading to clashes and multiple arrests.
• Unions say the Trabalho XXI package—approved by the council of ministers in May—would expand outsourcing, lengthen fixed-term contracts and widen bank-of-hours arrangements, and the government is negotiating in Parliament to secure votes from other parties including Chega.
• The reforms could affect hundreds of thousands of Brazilian workers in Portugal, with official counts above 400,000 and some estimates near 700,000, raising concerns about job stability, residency renewals and wider impacts on tourism and public services.