“Just like on the first day of the strike, 100% participation has been achieved. There have been no developments. There have been no concessions from either the government or CP, so the strike will continue,” Júlio Marques, from the Trade Union Association of Intermediate Railway Operations Managers (ASCEF), which is part of the 14 unions that called the strike, told Lusa.

Lusa news agency is awaiting a report from CP – Comboios de Portugal.

This strike was called against the imposition of salary adjustments “that do not restore purchasing power”, for “collective negotiation of decent salary adjustments” and for “implementation of the agreement to restructure salary scales, under the terms in which it was negotiated and agreed”, according to the unions (14).

On Wednesday, CP lamented the impact that the strike is having on the lives of passengers and said it had contested the lack of minimum services before the Lisbon Court of Appeal.

“CP – Comboios de Portugal regrets the serious disruptions and impacts that the ongoing strikes are causing to the daily lives of all its customers,” it said in a statement, adding that it was aware of the damage caused.

Train circulation is currently experiencing disruptions, which are expected to continue until May 14, due to strikes by CP workers, called by several unions.

The Economic and Social Council's Arbitration Court did not decree minimum services for this strike, a decision that the company said on Wednesday it had contested before the Lisbon Court of Appeal, taking into account that the strike affects access to work, health and education.

The strike on Wednesday and today was called by the Trade Union Association of Intermediate Railway Operations Managers (ASCEF), the Independent Trade Union Association of Commercial Career Railway Workers (ASSIFECO), the Federation of Transport and Communications Trade Unions (FECTRANS), the National Transport, Communications and Public Works Union (FENTCOP), the National Union of Railway Workers of the Movement and Related (SINAFE), the National Democratic Railway Union (SINDEFER), the Independent Union of Infrastructure and Related Railway Workers (SINFA), the National Independent Railway Workers Union (SINFB), the National Union of Transport and Industry Workers (SINTTI), the Independent Union of Railway and Related Operators (SIOFA), the National Union of Technical Staff (SNAQ), the National Union of Railway Sector Workers (SNTSF), Railway Transport Union (STF) and Metro and Railway Workers Union (STMEFE).

This strike is in addition to the one called by the Machinists' Union (SMAQ) and the one called by the Commercial Itinerant Review Railway Union (SFRCI).

The services necessary for the safety and maintenance of equipment and facilities will be ensured, emergency services, rescue trains and all trains that have started their journey must be taken to their destination.