Last year’s total of strike warnings submitted to the Ministry of Employment, Solidarity and Social Security was up 120 on 2017’s total, and up 245 on 2016.

The last year when there were more strike warnings (811) was 2015. However, that figure was still well below those in 2012 and 2013, during the centre-right coalition government that implemented the adjustment programme that came with Portugal’s euro-zone bailout. In those two years, the number of strike warnings was 1,895 and 1,534, respectively.

Of the total strikes reported last year, the majority (468) were in the private sector.

The rate at which they were declared increased towards the end of the year, particularly from October, the month the government submitted the 2019 state budget to parliament.

The worst month for strikes was December, with a total of 127 formal warnings, followed by November (95) and October (83).

The months in which there were fewest strikes were September (23), February (29) and January (32).