Portugal is bracing for its first joint general strike in over a decade, as tensions mount between the government and the country’s largest trade unions over a sweeping draft labor law reform. The showdown, set for December 11, 2025, has sparked heated accusations from all sides and is shaping up to be a defining moment for labor rights and political discourse in the nation.
At the heart of the dispute is the government’s proposed overhaul of labor legislation—a package critics say could unravel decades of hard-won worker protections. According to Portugal Pulse, Mariana Mortágua, the sole parliamentary deputy for the Bloco de Esquerda (BE), minced no words in her condemnation: “On crucial issues for the trade unions, which include deregulation of working hours, fixed-term contract precariousness, individual time banks, dismissals, and collective bargaining—essential aspects of labor law—the Government’s position is one of extreme intransigence.”
Mortágua’s remarks came after a meeting with representatives from CGTP-IN and UGT, Portugal’s two major trade union confederations. These organizations, alarmed by the government’s stance, have joined forces to call for a nationwide general strike. The move is significant: it marks the first time since June 2013—during the country’s fraught period under the so-called ‘troika’ of international lenders—that the unions have coordinated such a large-scale action.
Union leaders argue that the proposed reforms threaten to erode the very foundation of collective bargaining and job security. In a statement circulated to its members, the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC) warned, “The Government is not reforming the Labour Code, it is testing the country. It is testing how many hours can be extended, how many rights can be revoked, how many collective agreements can expire, how many strikes can be emptied by minimum service decrees.”
The SNPVAC, which represents flight personnel across Portugal, has requested an emergency assembly to address what it calls the “enormous repercussions on the aviation sector.” The union’s leadership is especially concerned about the potential for longer working hours and the undermining of existing labor agreements—changes that could ripple far beyond aviation and into the broader workforce.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, however, has taken a sharply different view. He accused the unions of “political opportunism” for calling the strike, suggesting their actions are more about scoring points than defending workers’ interests. The unions, for their part, rejected this characterization outright. “True opportunism is using political power to test the patience and dignity of an entire country, while calling the dismantling of labour guarantees a ‘reform’,” the SNPVAC retorted.
For many in the labor movement, the government’s approach signals more than a policy disagreement—it is seen as an existential threat to Portugal’s social contract. Mortágua, speaking to journalists at the Assembly of the Republic, argued that the government is “counting on support from Chega and the Liberal Initiative to push forward the most ideological and radical labor reform in recent years, which will bring years of setback to labor protection in Portugal.” In her words, “It’s an ideologically profound reform we haven’t seen in a long time, aiming to radically transform labor laws in Portugal and the way we view work, taking us back 100 years.”
The unions’ frustration is compounded by what they describe as the government’s “unprecedented unavailability and comfort” with its own proposal. Mortágua relayed that both CGTP-IN and UGT felt the government was unwilling to negotiate, relying instead on parliamentary support from right-leaning parties to push the reforms through. “This ‘unavailability’ is due to the Government relying on approval from Chega and IL for the labor package,” she said.
The SNPVAC echoed these concerns, asserting that the government’s draft reform “is an unprecedented civilisational setback that is not even aligned with the economies that this Government takes as a reference.” The union also criticized the government’s narrative, stating, “There is no modernity when legislation is passed against those who work. And there is no social dialogue when the Government responds to protests with accusations of opportunism.”
Amid the labor law controversy, another issue has added fuel to the political fire: the ongoing investigation into the 2015 privatization of TAP, Portugal’s national airline. On November 18, 2025, the Judicial Police conducted searches related to the deal, which was originally brokered by a PSD-led government. Mortágua seized on the moment to highlight what she called the “ironic, if not tragic,” situation of the same political forces now seeking to partly re-privatize TAP. “It’s ironic, if not tragic, that the same Government responsible for the privatization process currently under scrutiny at TAP is the Government preparing to privatize TAP again,” she said. In her view, this scenario offers “no guarantees about the future” and reinforces her position that the airline “should be public” as it “is profitable” and “there is no reason to privatize it, except for this Government’s ideological obsession.”
The broader context of these events cannot be ignored. Portugal, like many European countries, has been grappling with economic pressures, shifting political alliances, and debates over the best path forward for its workforce. The government’s supporters argue that labor market flexibility is essential for competitiveness and growth, especially in a rapidly changing global economy. They claim that outdated labor laws stifle innovation and make it harder for businesses to adapt.
Yet, for many workers and union leaders, the proposed reforms are a step too far. They fear a return to precarious employment, weakened unions, and a rollback of rights that were hard-won through years of struggle. The memory of the troika era—when Portugal was forced to implement harsh austerity measures in exchange for international bailout funds—still looms large in the collective consciousness.
As the December 11 strike approaches, both sides are digging in their heels. The government insists that reform is necessary, while unions vow to resist what they see as an attack on the dignity and security of Portuguese workers. The coming weeks will test not only the resolve of labor organizations but also the government’s ability to navigate a deeply divided political landscape.
With the nation’s attention fixed on the looming general strike, Portugal stands at a crossroads. The outcome may well shape the country’s labor relations and political culture for years to come.
