According to ECO, CP — Comboios de Portugal have warned that disruptions to circulation are to be expected until Saturday, due to the strike called by several unions, but for which minimum services were defined.

“Due to strikes called by the SMAQ union between 27 June and 14 July 2024, and by the ASCEF, ASSIFECO, FENTCOP, SINAFE, SINDEFER, SINFA, SINFB, SIOFA, SNAQ, SNTSF, and STF, among the 00:00 and 24:00 on 28 June 2024, disturbances in circulation are expected with a special impact on 28 June and the days before and after”, says CP in a note published on its portal.

Likewise, CP notes that the strike could also affect the circulation of the Douro Historic Train.

Customers with tickets to travel on Alfa Pendular, intercity, international, and interregional trains can request a full refund or exchange.

Refunds can be made on CP's digital platforms, up to 15 minutes before the train leaves the customer's home station, or at the ticket offices.

“After this period, and up to 10 days after the end of the strike, a refund can be requested by filling out the online contact form 'refund for delay or deletion', and sending a scan of the original ticket”, he added.

The Arbitration Court decided to decree minimum services, of around 25%, in the strike that will take place at CP — Comboios de Portugal, which has the support of several unions, according to a ruling released on Thursday.

CP workers will be on strike on Friday, demanding the enhancement of their careers, according to a document signed by more than 10 union organisations.

“A group of trade union organizations have met to analyze the negotiation processes at CP and IP [Infraestruturas de Portugal], having, for now, decided to deliver a strike notice to CP for the 28th of June”, reads the joint statement, released on June 12.

The strike covers all workers and will last throughout the day, safeguarding “situations of entry before 00:00 hours and exits after 24:00 hours on that day”.

The Court's decision on this strike and another called for between 27 June and 14 July includes, in addition to the traditional minimum services on relief trains and the transport of dangerous goods and perishable goods, a list of trains that must be secured.

Of these, the long-distance service will, on Friday, account for around 23% of the service provided, the regional ones with 25%, the urban ones in Lisbon with 25%, the urban ones in Porto with 25%, and the urban ones in Coimbra with 24%.

The strike will be joined by the Union Association of Intermediate Managers of Railway Operations (ASCEF), the Independent Union Association of Commercial Career Railway Workers (ASSIFECO), the National Union of Transport, Communications and Public Works (FENTCOP), the National Union of Railway Workers of the Movement and Related (SINAFE), the National Democratic Railway Union (Sindefer) and the Independent Union of Railway, Infrastructure and Related Workers (SINFA).

The National Independent Union of Railway Workers (SINFB), the Independent Union of Railway Operators and Related (SIOFA), the National Union of Technical Staff (SNAQ), the Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (Fectrans), the Railway Transport Union ( STF), the National Union of Portuguese Railway Machinists (SMAQ) and the National Union of Railway Sector Workers (SNTSF) will also join.

The union structures understand that the CP administration's proposals do not respond to the need to enhance the careers of all the company's workers.