Portugal witnessed a historic display of worker solidarity on December 11, 2025, as a massive general strike swept across the nation, paralyzing key public and private sectors and sending a clear message to the country’s minority center-right government. According to trade union estimates reported by Peoples Dispatch, around 3 million people participated in the industrial action, making it potentially the largest walkout in Portugal in more than a decade, as noted by The Associated Press.
The strike was called by Portugal’s two main trade union confederations—the General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP) and the General Union of Workers (UGT)—in response to the government’s proposed changes to labor legislation. These proposals aim to alter working-time arrangements, roll back parental rights, and reform fixed-term contracts, all under the banner of increased “flexibility.” But for many workers, this so-called flexibility spells trouble.
“They call it flexibility, but we should call it what it really is: time theft,” said nurse Mário Macedo in an interview with Peoples Dispatch. The government’s plan includes a controversial shift toward a time-bank system, where workers would no longer receive immediate remuneration for overtime work. Instead, hours would be banked and compensated at a later time—an arrangement that many fear could erode hard-won protections and create uncertainty for families and individuals who rely on predictable income.
Beyond the issue of overtime pay, the proposed reforms would weaken protections for parents, including those that limit night work and safeguard carers of children living with disabilities. The right to strike—already a sensitive topic in a country with a long history of labor activism—also faces new threats under the planned legislation.
“The last time we saw proposals like this was during the Troika period in 2012,” Macedo recalled, referencing the years of austerity imposed by the European Union, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. “But today there isn’t this kind of social or economic pressure to justify such changes. It is a purely ideological project.”
On the day of the strike, Tiago Oliveira, secretary general of the CGTP, echoed this sentiment, telling Peoples Dispatch, “When things were supposedly bad, rights, wages, pensions, vacation days, and holidays were taken away. Now, when they say the economy is doing well and growing, what are they doing? Exactly the same thing.”
The impact of the strike was felt nationwide. Travel was severely disrupted, with public transportation grinding to a halt in many areas. According to The Associated Press, the walkout forced the cancellation of countless medical appointments and school classes, while government and municipal services—including trash collection—were badly hit. The breadth of disruption underscored the strike’s reach: it wasn’t just a protest by public-sector employees or a single industry, but a broad-based movement uniting workers across the economy.
One of the most striking aspects of the December 11 action was its ability to overcome traditional divides within Portugal’s labor movement. Historically, private-sector workers have been less likely to engage in industrial action, but this time, participation extended to employees in the car industry and private health institutions. Macedo pointed out that even a significant portion of voters for the ruling Democratic Alliance supported the strike, signaling widespread discontent that transcends party lines.
“Even the center-right sections of the UGT voted in favor of the strike,” Macedo explained to Peoples Dispatch. Both CGTP and UGT, which have sometimes found themselves at odds, converged in their opposition to the reforms. While the UGT was recently reported meeting with government officials in hopes of a “positive restart towards an agreement,” both confederations have pledged to continue mobilizing until their concerns are addressed.
The government’s proposals, particularly the time-bank system and weakened parental protections, have proven deeply unpopular. The backlash has even shaken the political right. The far-right party Chega, which provides “tactical support” to the minority government in parliament, hesitated in its endorsement of the reforms following the industrial action, according to Peoples Dispatch. With such a broad coalition of opposition, the government now faces a much tougher battle to pass the reforms—especially the most controversial elements.
For many, the fight over this legislation is about more than just the specifics of overtime pay or contract terms. It’s about the direction of Portuguese society and the balance of power between workers and employers. “Portugal’s labor code has been revised many times since the 1970s,” Macedo noted. “And almost every revision—except for one brief moment in 2018—was a revision against the workers and in favor of capital.”
The sense of history is palpable. The last time Portugal saw labor reforms of this magnitude was during the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, when international lenders demanded austerity measures in exchange for bailout funds. Back then, the argument was that the country had no choice. Today, with the economy reportedly growing, many see the government’s push as an ideological move rather than a necessity.
Oliveira, the CGTP leader, put it bluntly: “Now, when they say the economy is doing well and growing, what are they doing? Exactly the same thing.” This sense of déjà vu has fueled anger and a determination to resist what many view as an unnecessary rollback of workers’ rights.
Despite the government’s insistence on the need for reform, the scale of the strike has made it clear that any changes will be hard-won. After such a strong mobilization, Macedo is cautiously optimistic. “I’m optimistic, because we now have a real opportunity to fight this in parliament, and we also have a clear social majority in the streets that wants to push back against this law.”
Yet, the struggle is far from over. Both trade unions and grassroots activists are preparing for a drawn-out campaign, with further protests and negotiations expected in the coming months. The government, for its part, has signaled a willingness to talk—at least with some union leaders—but has not yet indicated any major concessions.
As Portugal stands at a crossroads, the outcome of this dispute will have far-reaching consequences, not just for the country’s workers but for the broader question of how societies balance economic growth with social justice. The events of December 11 have already reshaped the political landscape, reminding all sides that, in the end, the power of collective action can still bring a country to a standstill.