Transport Strikes in Portugal: Notice, Minimum Services, Planning
Strikes on the Metro, CP trains or the Tagus ferries rarely come as a surprise. The law forces early notice and minimum services, and both are published before the day.
A transport strike in Portugal must be announced at least 10 working days in advance, because transport counts as an essential social need under the Labour Code. Minimum services (serviços mínimos) are then agreed between the parties or imposed: by an arbitration court at the Economic and Social Council for state-owned companies, or by joint ministerial order for private ones.
That gives passengers about two weeks’ warning and, usually, a decision on minimum services at least 48 hours before the strike begins. The rules below come from the Labour Code (Código do Trabalho) and the strike FAQ of DGERT, the labor ministry’s directorate for labor relations, as of November 2026.
How much notice must a strike give?
The general notice period is 5 working days, but 10 working days for companies that meet essential social needs (necessidades sociais impreteríveis), under article 534 of the Labour Code. Article 537 lists passenger transport, including ports, airports, rail and coach stations, among those sectors.
The strike notice (aviso prévio de greve) goes to the employer and to the labor ministry. It must give the start time and, if set, the end time, the workers and sites covered, and a proposal of minimum services. DGERT keeps a public list of strike notices on its website.
Who decides the minimum services?
Minimum services can be set in five ways, according to article 538 of the Labour Code as explained by DGERT:
- by the collective labor agreement that covers the company;
- by a specific agreement between the employer and the workers’ representatives made before the notice;
- by an agreement reached in a negotiation run by DGERT after the notice;
- if there is no agreement in a private company, by a joint order of the labor minister and the minister for the sector;
- if there is no agreement in a state-owned company, by an arbitration court set up by the Economic and Social Council (Conselho Económico e Social, CES).
The CES has ruled in disputes over Metro de Lisboa and Carris strikes, among others. Its decisions must respect necessity, adequacy and proportionality, and must be notified to the parties at least 48 hours before the strike starts. The union names the workers who will cover minimum services 24 hours before the start; if it does not, the employer does.
Where do Metro, Carris, CP, Fertagus and the ferries announce strikes?
Each operator posts notices and the services it expects to run on its own website and in stations, usually once minimum services are known.
| Operator | Network | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Metro de Lisboa | Four Metro lines | metrolisboa.pt, line status on the home page |
| Carris | Lisbon city buses, trams and lifts | carris.pt |
| CP (Comboios de Portugal) | Sintra, Cascais, Azambuja and Sado lines; long-distance trains | cp.pt |
| Fertagus | Train across the 25 de Abril Bridge to Setúbal | fertagus.pt |
| Transtejo Soflusa | Tagus ferries | ttsl.pt |
For the legal documents themselves, DGERT publishes minimum-service agreements and ministerial orders, and the CES publishes its arbitration decisions. The DGERT strikes and minimum services FAQ links to each list.
Will my pass or ticket be refunded?
The strike rules in the Labour Code deal with workers and employers, not passengers, so refunds depend on each operator’s own terms. A monthly Navegante pass is a flat monthly price and covers every operator in its zone, so on a strike day you can often switch to a service that is still running.
- For CP long-distance trains, check cp.pt for the operator’s conditions on cancelled trains before you travel.
- For single and zapping trips, you pay only when you validate, so an unused balance stays on the card.
- Keep receipts if you pay for a taxi or other transport, in case the operator or your employer has a policy that covers it.
See our guide to the Navegante pass for what each pass covers across operators.
How do I plan around a strike or general strike?
Start with the minimum services decision, which lists the share of trips or the lines and times that must run. Then plan around the gaps.
- Check the operator’s site the evening before and again in the morning, and note the times of the trips that minimum services guarantee.
- Look at alternatives run by other operators: a Metro strike does not stop Carris buses, and a CP strike does not stop Fertagus or the ferries, unless their workers strike too. For the river, see our guide to Lisbon’s Tagus ferries, and for the coast and Sintra, our guide to CP trains to Sintra and Cascais.
- Allow for crowding on the services that do run, and for heavier road traffic.
- For a general strike called by union confederations, expect several operators to be affected on the same day and check each one separately.
- Tell your employer early if you cannot get to work; whether the day is paid or must be made up depends on your contract and the employer.
Can workers on minimum services refuse?
No. Workers designated for minimum services must provide them and are paid for that time, under article 537 of the Labour Code. If minimum services are not met, the government can order a civil requisition (requisição civil) under Decree-Law 637/74.
Employers also cannot replace strikers with workers hired for the strike, or hand their tasks to an outside company, except where minimum or safety services are not being met.
Bottom line
The 10-working-day notice rule means a transport strike almost always appears in the news and on DGERT’s list well before the day, so the real unknown is the minimum services decision, which may arrive only two days ahead. For trips to the airport or a long-distance train on a strike day, book an alternative early rather than waiting for that decision.
FAQ
Is a strike on the Metro the same as a strike on Carris?
No. They are separate companies with separate unions and notices. One can strike while the other runs normally.
Can a strike be called off at the last minute?
Yes. Unions can withdraw a notice, often after an agreement with the employer. Check the operator’s site on the morning of the strike.
Do strikes affect night buses?
They can, if the notice covers the workers and hours involved. Check the minimum services decision and the Carris site for night routes.
Who pays for my taxi if the Metro is on strike?
Passengers normally pay their own alternative transport. Some employers have their own policies, so ask before you assume the cost will be covered.
