A strike organized by three unions under the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) caused significant disruptions to schools and health services across the country. While unions claim participation rates between 60% and 90%, the government reported that only 12% of public sector workers joined the walkout. The protest comes as unions demand salary increases ahead of the 2027 State Budget presentation.
Public sector strike disrupts schools and hospitals
Friday, 2 October 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP – Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses) is Portugal’s largest trade-union confederation, grouping most unions in manufacturing, public services and many other sectors.
Founded clandestinely in 1970 as “Intersindical” under the dictatorship, it emerged publicly after the 1974 Carnation Revolution and was legalised in 1975. It has been central to virtually all major labour struggles since then, from defending collective bargaining and the 40‑hour week to leading general strikes against austerity and labour‑law rollbacks.
CGTP is historically close to the Portuguese Communist Party and has a class‑struggle, anti‑neoliberal profile, strongly critical of EU and government policies seen as undermining workers’ rights. It favours grassroots mobilisation and strikes over compromise, often refusing national social‑pact deals that the more centrist UGT is willing to sign.
In today’s Portugal, CGTP remains a key actor in wage bargaining, labour‑law debates and national protests; together with UGT it called the first joint general strike in years in December 2025, signalling its continuing capacity to organise mass action.
