If you have to travel or are planning to travel on December 11 (Thursday), get ready to change all your logistics because there will be a general strike on this day, which will compromise the normal functioning of the city, especially in public transport, schools and health services
As is usual whenever there is a strike, this one promises to be particularly intense in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, affecting not only those who rely on public transport but also those who have children at school or doctor’s appointments scheduled.
December 11 is not “just another strike”
Before we give you some tips on how to avoid some of these constraints, here’s a short list of the main reasons why this general strike has been called.
The basis is the package of measures on work announced by the current government, which could define what it will be like to work in Portugal for decades to come, with a new labor pact that directly affects the lives of those who already work, including their current contract, rest breaks, family time and even the right to strike:
- Fixed-term contracts could last longer;
- Dismissals will become simpler in certain cases;
- Minimum strike services will be more comprehensive;
- Different rules for parenthood;
- Breastfeeding leave now has a stricter age limit;
- The rules on gestational bereavement change ;
- There may be longer working hours per week, without a proportional increase in salary;
- Companies now have more leeway to refuse teleworking.
You can find all the proposals put forward by the XXV Government in this document.
Transport, schools and health facilities
So that you won’t be taken by surprise, we’ve analyzed the critical sectors and what historically happens on these days of strike action in the capital.
Transport
This is invariably the sector where the impact is most visible and immediate. A general strike in Lisbon usually has a domino effect:
- Lisbon Underground
- Stations are often completely closed, so in this particular case, the Metro is expected to be closed all day;
- Carris and bus stations
- You’ll probably have to wait a long time for a bus, and a large number of bus route cancellations are also expected. For this reason, car traffic is likely to get significantly worse due to the increased use of private vehicles;
- CP and Fertagus
- Rail traffic is often affected, and in this general strike it’s quite possible that the minimum services won’t even be guaranteed, which usually only guarantee traffic at “peak times”, leaving large windows of time without trains;
- Transtejo/Soflusa
- River connections between the banks of the Tagus may be cut, creating long queues at the river terminals.
As this is a strike, and a general strike at that, it is never possible to guess what each of these sectors is preparing, but it is normal for them to release announcements the day before or even on the day of the strike, early on. So keep an eye out for announcements in the usual places, such as the websites or social networks of these transport companies.
Schools
Uncertainty will be the watchword until the gates open, but even if teachers don’t join in en masse, the strike by non-teaching staff (assistants) will be enough to keep schools closed for security and surveillance reasons.
Therefore, the most likely scenario is that schools will close or operate at “half capacity”, without canteen services or ATL activities.
The alternative will be to keep the children at home, ask family members to look after them or use the services of a private ATL, which are still open these days.
Garbage and urban hygiene
Although less immediate than transport, the impact on waste collection is real. On general strike days, night collection (on the night of the 10th to the 11th) and day collection often fail.
If possible, avoid putting bags of garbage out on the street the night before the strike. The accumulation of waste on Lisbon’s sidewalks is rapid and undesirable.
Health and public services
If you have a non-urgent appointment or need to process documents at the Tax Office or Social Security, be prepared for delays or even cancellations.
In hospitals, emergencies and treatments that can’t be postponed (such as hemodialysis or chemotherapy) are safeguarded by the minimum services, but for routine appointments and complementary exams there may be cancellations.
The Citizen ‘s Bureau may be closed or have a very limited service . If it’s not urgent, postpone your trip.
How to survive the general strike on December 11th
To minimize stress on an atypical day in the city, consider these strategies:
- Teleworking
- If your profession allows it, this is the safest and most effective option;
- Car sharing
- If you have to drive, combine rides with colleagues. Traffic at the entrances to Lisbon (A5, A1, 25 de Abril Bridge) is likely to be chaotic;
- Mobility apps
- Use mobile apps like Citymapper, Google Maps or CP in real time to check if your public transport is running before you leave home.
The strike is a constitutional right, but the impact on the city’s routine is inevitable. The best tool at your disposal for the 11th is anticipation.
The purpose of this news item is to inform, so that everyone can draw their own conclusions about what is at stake on December 11, as well as prevent themselves and make decisions about how to plan their day.
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