"At the moment, we know that there are quite a few schools closing in the north, but we don't have complete data yet. But more than just closed schools, we believe the strike marks a position of protest against the Government," Daniel Martins, from the Union of All Education Professionals (S.TO.P.), told Lusa.

Daniel Martins stressed that the strike called by S.TO.P. "guarantees that national exams will not be affected," meaning that the strike notice does not cover the national high school exam in Biology and Geology, which takes place on 18 June.

The strike protests today's [18 June] scheduling, just days after a general workers' strike, of the parliamentary discussion of the Government's new labour package, which Daniel Martins has guaranteed will worsen working conditions and, consequently, public schools. The new labour package, contested by unions, motivated two general strikes: on 11 December, which united CGTP-IN and UGT, and on 3 June, called only by CGTP.

Among the most contested legislative changes are the expansion of fixed-term contracts, the new rules for accessing breastfeeding leave, the reintroduction of individual time banks, and the non-reinstatement of workers unlawfully dismissed.

Without an agreement in the social dialogue, the government's bill went to parliament, where it will be debated.