“We inform you that, due to a strike called by the unions SINFB [National Independent Union of Railway Workers] and STMEFE [Union of Metro and Railway Workers], between 9 and 31 August 2024, one-off disruptions are expected, which may be more pronounced on 15 August”, reads a notice on the carrier’s website.

Last month, CP reached an agreement with 11 unions, calling off a strike that was scheduled for that time, but the two union structures do not agree with what was presented.

Speaking to Lusa, António Pereira, from Sinfb, said that the agreement that the other unions signed “was practically [the same] as the one presented two days earlier”, he said, indicating that, if they had not agreed before, they would not do so on that date either.

“We are fighting for an increase in careers. The company wants to give us more work for the same money and we will not accept it under any circumstances”, he assured.

The strike affects overtime between 9 and 31 August, with the exception of 15 August, when it will last 24 hours and will affect the work in CP's workshops, he explained.

According to the union leader, the strike “will jeopardise the trains because maintenance will no longer be carried out”.

The operator had also already reached an agreement with the National Union of Portuguese Railway Drivers (SMAQ) and the Commercial Itinerant Railway Union (SFRCI).