Sebastião Santana, coordinator of the union organisation, has accused the Government of failing to address the needs of workers and public services. He said the strike is intended to serve as a warning to MPs ahead of the final vote on the budget.

The union leader explained that the decision to proceed with a nationwide stoppage stems from dissatisfaction with the Government's budgetary choices and the need to put pressure on Parliament while the proposal is still under discussion.

Government faces criticism

The strike has been called amid opposition to the proposed 2027 State Budget, which the Frente Comum considers detrimental to workers, pensioners and families.

The union organisation has condemned the budget in a social media post, arguing that it will negatively affect workers, pensioners and families.

The Frente Comum claims the proposal continues policies that have been undermining workers' living standards and could also affect the functioning of public services. The union believes the budget will have an impact on several sectors, including healthcare, education, housing and justice, where it says existing problems have continued to worsen.

Putting pressure on the Government

The choice of strike date also has a political objective.

The nationwide strike is scheduled for 20 November, four days before the final overall vote on the budget, which began to be discussed on 27 November.

The aim is to draw MPs' attention to the potential consequences of the 2027 State Budget, as outlined by the Frente Comum.

Sectors affected by the strike

The nationwide strike organised by the Frente Comum could disrupt several areas of public administration, including schools, healthcare facilities and administrative services.

It is not yet possible to assess the extent of the disruption, as the impact will only become clear on the day of the strike.

Other potential strikes

Portugal could also face a general strike on 11 November, alongside a planned Spanish strike.

As reported by The Portugal News, trade unions in Portugal and Spain had been holding talks to organise an Iberian-wide stoppage, which would be known as the Saramago strike, in tribute to Portuguese writer José Saramago, who spent 20 years of his life in Lanzarote, in Spain's Canary Islands.

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