In a statement, the union hails "the growing number of pilots who are signing up to the causes that motivated the strike" agreed by its members, and said that "the scale of this strike is a reflection of the feeling of anger that the government and the group's management has inflicted on pilots and other employees."
It also accuses the company and the government of seeking "desperately to fabricate and foster imaginary divisions among pilots with the aim of persuading them not to defend their legitimate strategic interests." Such "manoeuvres", the union statement adds, will not succeed.
The strike was called on the grounds that the government is not fulfilling neither an accord signed in December nor one established in 1999 that gave pilots the right to shares in the company as part of any future privatisation.
TAP is among state-owned companies that the government is planning to sell to investors. It says this is necessary to raise funds to reduce public sector debt, as well as to ensure that the company will have access to investment in future.
Meanwhile, Portugal's Business Confederation, CIP, called on pilots not to go ahead with the strike, which it described as "an act of irresponsibility" and liable to damage the country's economy.
We will never fly with TAP again! Ruined our holiday.
By Anne from UK on 28 Apr 2015, 21:07
We lost lot of money if the strike comes true (car rent, hotel, golf-package) and will never be anymore the customers of TAP
By Arja from Finland from Other on 29 Apr 2015, 12:40
I am here from Canada and due to fly out Monday. I will never return to Portugal again.
This is no place to take a vacation when the state owned government airline allows this to happen.
By wayne from Other on 29 Apr 2015, 13:28
Our holiday flight to Lisbon cancelled so holiday abandoned. Will not fly with TAP again. Silly, silly pilots, whom may have a genuine grudge but there are other ways to deal with that than taking it out on customers. Another airline broken by the unrealistic demands of staff.
By David from UK on 04 May 2015, 19:38