Portugal Paralyzed by First General Strike in 12 Years

Shares fell sharply in Lisbon's stock exchange on Thursday as a general strike brought severe disruption to Portugal, the country's first such protest in 12 years. The strike, staged by the two main union federations, the CGTP and the UGT, resulted in dozens of flights and trains being cancelled, schools closing, and hospital operations being postponed in cities across Portugal. The strike, which was called to protest unprecedented labour reforms, also led to a significant reduction in public transport services, with many areas experiencing a minimum service. Unions reported that refuse collections had come to a standstill as the strike took hold. 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. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro defended the labour reforms, saying they were necessary to tackle "rigidities" in the labour market. "I will not give up on having a country with the ambition to be at the forefront, to be at the vanguard of economic growth," he said. "We need to make sure that companies can be more profitable and workers have better salaries as a result." The strike has been seen as a test of the government's resolve to push through the labour reforms, which have been met with resistance from unions and opposition parties. The reforms aim to make it easier for companies to hire and fire workers, and to reduce the number of sectors that are protected from layoffs. Portugal's economy has been growing rapidly in recent months, with the country becoming the fastest-growing economy in the eurozone. However, the strike has highlighted the challenges facing the government as it tries to balance the need for economic growth with the need to protect workers' rights. The strike has also sparked international interest, with many countries watching to see how the situation develops. "The Portuguese government's decision to push through the labour reforms has been met with widespread criticism from unions and opposition parties," said a spokesperson for the European Trade Union Confederation. "We are monitoring the situation closely and will be providing support to the unions and workers affected by the strike." As the strike enters its second day, the government and unions are set to engage in talks to try to resolve the dispute. The outcome of the talks is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the strike has brought Portugal to a standstill and has highlighted the deep divisions between the government and the unions over the labour reforms.