Portugal's General Strike Paralyzes Transport and Services Over Labor Reform

On 3 June 2026 a nationwide general strike brought large parts of Portugal to a standstill as unions protested a planned overhaul of the labour market. The minority centre‑right government, backed by the far‑right Chega party, intends to amend more than 100 articles of the labour code to boost productivity, but union leaders warn it will increase precarious contracts, ease dismissals and cut strike rights.

Strikes hit the transport sector first: the state railway halted long‑distance and most regional services, Lisbon’s metro stopped running, and flights were severely reduced – TAP operated only 79 of its usual 300‑plus daily flights and the Lisbon airport cancelled over half of scheduled departures, with other airports seeing roughly 40 % cancellations. Schools, universities, hospitals and waste‑collection services were also disrupted, and many operations were postponed.

Union federation CGTP chief Tiago Oliveira said the reform would "worsen conditions for workers and cement precarious employment," while a 30‑year‑old bank employee, Rodrigo Azevedo, called the package "a big threat not only to the future of young workers but also to our present." The strike follows a previous nationwide action in December, marking the second major labour protest within six months.