Portugal Paralysed: Nationwide Strike Brings Services to a Halt

Portugal is facing severe disruption to transport, flights, hospitals, schools, and other public services on Thursday, as the two main union federations, the CGTP and the UGT, stage a general strike over unprecedented labour reforms. The strike, which is the first of its kind in 12 years, is expected to bring much of the country to a standstill, with thousands of workers participating in the protest. According to reports, the strike is a response to Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's plans to tackle "rigidities" in the labour market, which he claims are necessary to make companies more profitable and workers better off. However, the unions argue that the reforms will lead to job losses and reduced benefits for workers. "I will not give up on having a country with the ambition to be at the forefront, to be at the vanguard of Europe," Montenegro said on the eve of the strike. The last time the CGTP and the UGT joined forces was during the eurozone debt crisis in 2013, when a "troika" of international institutions demanded cuts in salaries and pensions as part of Portugal's bailout. Since then, Portugal's economy has experienced a significant turnaround, becoming the fastest-growing in the eurozone in recent months. However, the unions argue that the country's economic growth has not been shared equally among all workers. International observers have been watching the situation closely, with some expressing concerns about the potential impact of the strike on Portugal's economy. "The strike is a symptom of a deeper issue, which is the lack of trust between the government and the unions," said Maria José Ribeiro, a labour expert at the University of Lisbon. "The government needs to engage in a more constructive dialogue with the unions to find a solution that works for everyone." The strike is expected to cause significant disruptions to daily life in Portugal, with many public services and businesses likely to be affected. The government has urged citizens to plan ahead and make necessary arrangements to minimize the impact of the strike. As the situation unfolds, the international community will be watching closely to see how the strike affects Portugal's economy and its relations with the European Union. In a statement, the CGTP and the UGT said that the strike was a last resort and that they had exhausted all other options to resolve the dispute. "We are not against the government's plans to reform the labour market, but we need to ensure that any changes are fair and do not harm workers," said a spokesperson for the unions. The strike is set to continue throughout the day, with further developments expected in the coming hours.