Lisbon is bracing for what could be one of the most significant labor actions in over a decade, as multiple trade unions representing Portugal’s public administration workers unite in opposition to the government’s proposed labor reforms. The coming weeks are set to test both the resilience of Portugal’s labor movement and the government’s resolve, with a series of strikes culminating in a major general strike on December 11, 2025.
At the heart of the unrest is the government’s “Work XXI” labor reform package, which has drawn sharp criticism from a wide array of union leaders. According to Portugal Pulse, the national secretariat of Fesap—a federation affiliated with the UGT union center—unanimously approved a general strike pre-notice, directly challenging Labor Minister Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho’s assertion that a strike would be “inopportune” during ongoing Social Concertation negotiations. José Abraão, Fesap’s general secretary, fired back at the government’s stance, declaring, “The government’s labor reform proposal is what’s inopportune.” He called for the government to “reconsider” the proposal and restore negotiations for a tripartite agreement, labeling the reform as “untimely and unjustified.”
The proposed reforms, which include controversial changes such as individual hour banks, expanded temporary hiring, easier dismissals, increased outsourcing, revised parental leave, and new rules for professional training, have been met with particular ire. Fesap’s resolution, approved by its secretariat, states, “This reform comes at an inappropriate time, in a context of economic growth, financial stability, and a dynamic labor market.” Union leaders argue that the reforms threaten to erode hard-won worker protections, commodify the right to work, and make dismissals “almost without rules.”
Adding fuel to the fire is the government’s decision not to restore three vacation days previously eliminated by the PSD/CDS government of Passos Coelho, nor the five so-called “cold” vacation days available if taken outside the summer period. “We cannot allow the commodification of the right to work in our country, with dismissals almost without rules,” warned Abraão. He also urged the Prime Minister to “respect the autonomy of the union movement,” emphasizing that union decisions are made “independently.” He appealed, “I appeal to the Prime Minister not to associate us with political parties or presidential candidates.”
Fesap, which represents 45 union organizations spanning all areas of State Administration, has thrown its full weight behind the action. The December 11 general strike will be the first joint stoppage of the two main union centers—CGTP and UGT—since June 2013, when Portugal was under the strict oversight of the so-called ‘troika’ of international lenders. “We will be actively and determinedly participating in the December 11th strike called by the UGT, hoping it will be among the significant strikes of recent years,” Abraão stated, expressing hope for a “major strike” with strong worker participation.
But Fesap is not alone in its opposition. The National Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Public Administration and Public Entities (Fesinap) has also called for a strike, beginning Friday, November 21, 2025, with minimum services maintained to ensure essential operations. Fesinap’s action covers workers from all public administration careers, with education (teachers and non-teaching staff) and health (doctors and nurses) expected to be the most affected sectors.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency, Mário Rui, Secretary-General of Fesinap, was blunt in his assessment: “The strike follows the labour package presented by the Government to the unions. In our view, this package represents a setback of more than 20 years in labour legislation, a delay for workers and future generations; in other words, it brings a lot of inconsistency, a lot of doubt, everything that will be bad for the labour market.” Rui warned that the reforms would leave Portuguese workers “even more impoverished compared to their European colleagues.” He predicted significant disruption across schools, courts, hospitals, and Social Security services, describing the November 21 strike as “a strong signal for December 11th, the day of the general strike, and the 12th, because Fesinap will also present a strike notice for December 12th.”
Fesinap’s demands are clear: the immediate withdrawal of the proposed labor reform, an urgent meeting with the government on the “Work XXI” reform, an end to what it describes as trade union discrimination by the executive branch, and effective participation in labor negotiations. Minimum services have been decreed for all public institutions to ensure that basic needs are met during the strike.
Rui also criticized the government’s preference for negotiating with the central unions, UGT and CGTP, over independent unions like Fesinap. He described this practice as “anti-democratic and incomprehensible,” adding, “We represent thousands of workers who do not identify with the union structures that regularly meet with the Government, I'm talking about UGT and CGTP. (…) For years we have tried to dialogue with the Government, but it has always prioritized dialogue with the central unions.”
The tension between the government and independent unions has been simmering for years, but the current reform package appears to have brought it to a boiling point. “If this position by the Government is maintained, workers will take to the streets to demand their rights and the rights of their families. The Government needs to look at Fesinap differently; we have thousands of associated workers,” Rui warned.
From the government’s perspective, Labor Minister Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho has maintained that the timing of the strikes is “inopportune,” given the ongoing negotiations in Social Concertation. Yet, union leaders remain unconvinced, arguing that the reforms themselves are ill-timed and that the government is not fully engaging with all stakeholders. The Prime Minister’s recent remarks suggesting unions serve either “the PS or the PC” have only deepened the sense of mistrust, prompting renewed calls for respect for union autonomy and independence.
The stakes are high, not just for Portugal’s public sector workers, but for the nation’s broader approach to labor rights and social dialogue. The planned strikes will test the solidarity of the union movement, the flexibility of the government, and the patience of the Portuguese public, especially as key services in education and healthcare face possible disruption.
As December 11 approaches, all eyes will be on Portugal’s streets, its schools, its hospitals, and its government offices. The outcome of these strikes may well shape the future of labor relations in Portugal for years to come, setting a precedent for how governments and unions negotiate in times of economic stability—and discord alike.
