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.