Tomorrow’s strike could affect schools, rubbish collection and council services in Portugal

Schools, rubbish collection, and council services could be disrupted tomorrow, Friday, 2 October, as public-sector workers hold a nationwide strike over pay and careers.

By Tereza Pedro, in News, Education, Economy · 01 Oct 2026, 19:03 · 0 Comments

Público reports that the action covers around 350,000 senior technicians, technical assistants and operational assistants working across public administration.

The strike has been called by three unions affiliated with the CGTP: FNSTFPS, STAL and STML.

The extent of the disruption will depend on how many workers join the action, with school notices warning that normal activities may not be possible.

Schools warn parents

Several school groups have asked parents to check whether their child’s school can open safely before leaving them there tomorrow.

The Alcabideche school group warned that the strike could cause disruption or even the closure of schools and kindergartens. Its notice asks families to confirm that sufficient staff are available to provide supervision and ensure children’s safety.

The action includes non-teaching employees whose work is essential to keeping schools running. The Boa Água school group specifically identifies operational and technical assistants among those covered by the strike, asking parents to check arrangements at the start of the school day.

In Murtosa, the school group explained that it would only be possible to establish the impact on individual schools on the day itself.

Rubbish collection and local services

Rubbish collection is also among the services that could be affected.

SIMAR, which serves Loures and Odivelas, has warned residents that the STAL strike may disrupt its usual waste collection operations. The service says it will work to limit the consequences and restore collections as quickly as possible afterwards, including the removal of bulky waste.

The strike notice also covers workers at municipal councils, parish councils, municipal associations and municipal services, as well as certain employees providing services through municipal companies and concessionaires. Residents planning to visit a council office today should check local notices before travelling.

Pay and career demands

The unions are calling for immediate negotiations to improve salaries and recognise the specific responsibilities of different public-sector professions.

The STML’s published demands include an interim pay increase of 15%, with a minimum rise of €150 per worker, and a revision of the public-sector salary scale. The union also wants improvements to meal allowances and allowances for difficult working conditions.

Alongside the 24-hour strike, workers are due to gather at 11am in Lisbon’s Praça da Figueira before heading towards the Ministry of Finance.