Rail strike continues to cause delays

According to ECO, CP – Comboios de Portugal warned that traffic disruptions were to be expected until Saturday due to the strike called by several unions, for which minimum services were established.

“Due to the strikes called by the SMAQ union between June 27 and July 14, 2024, and by ASCEF, ASSIFECO, FENTCOP, SINAFE, SINDEFER, SINFA, SINFB, SIOFA, SNAQ, SNTSF and STF between 00:00 and 24:00 on June 28, 2024, disruptions in transport are expected, which will have an impact especially on June 28 and the days before and after,” CP said in a statement on its portal.

CP also points out that the strike could also affect the traffic of the historic Douro train.

Customers holding tickets for travel on Alfa Pendular, intercity, international and interregional trains can request a full refund or exchange.

Refunds are possible on CP’s digital platforms up to 15 minutes before the train’s departure at the customer’s home station or at the ticket counters.

“After this period and up to 10 days after the end of the strike, a refund can be requested by completing the online ‘Refund in case of delay or cancellation’ contact form and sending a scan of the original ticket,” he added.

The arbitration tribunal has set a minimum wage of around 25% in the context of the strike at CP – Comboios de Portugal, which is supported by several unions, according to a ruling published on Thursday.

According to a document signed by more than ten union organizations, CP workers will strike on Friday to demand improvements in their career prospects.

“A group of trade union organizations met to analyze the negotiation processes at CP and IP (Infraestruturas de Portugal). For now, it has been decided to send a strike notice to CP for June 28,” says the joint statement of June 12.

The strike will cover all workers and will last all day, ensuring that “on that day, workers can come in before 00:00 and leave after 24:00”.

The court’s decision on this and another strike between June 27 and July 14 includes, in addition to the traditional minimum services for relief trains and the transport of dangerous and perishable goods, a list of trains that must be secured.

Of this, around 23% of the service on Friday is long-distance transport, 25% is regional transport, 25% is urban transport in Lisbon, 25% is urban transport in Porto and 24% is urban transport in Coimbra.

Joining the strike are: the Union of Intermediate Managers of Railway Operations (ASCEF), the Independent Union of Railway Workers in the Commercial Sector (ASSIFECO), the National Union of Transport, Communications and Public Works (FENTCOP), the National Union of Railway Workers of Movement and Related Professions (SINAFE), the National Democratic Railway Workers’ Union (Sindefer) and the Independent Union of Railway, Infrastructure and Related Workers (SINFA).

Also joining will be the National Independent Union of Railway Workers (SINFB), the Independent Union of Railway Operators and Related Industries (SIOFA), the National Union of Technical Personnel (SNAQ), the Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (Fectrans), the Railway Transport Union (STF), the National Union of Portuguese Railway Machinists (SMAQ) and the National Union of Railway Workers in the Sector (SNTSF).

The unions are aware that the CP administration’s proposals do not meet the need to improve the career opportunities of all the company’s employees.