STORY: A one-day general strike disrupted services across Portugal on Wednesday (June 3), halting trains, cancelling hundreds of flights and closing schools, as unions protested for the second time in six months against the government's labour reform plans.

Portugal's minority centre-right government sent to parliament two weeks ago its controversial changes to over 100 articles of the labour code after talks with unions collapsed, aimed at boosting productivity and spurring growth.

The bill is likely to pass with support from the far‑right Chega.

Tiago Oliveira, head of Portugal's largest umbrella union CGTP, which called the general strike, told Reuters the reform would worsen workers' conditions by entrenching precarious employment, deregulating hours, easing dismissals and curbing strike rights and parental protections.

State‑owned railway CP suspended long‑distance trains and most regional trains, while Lisbon's metro was shut.

Schools closed nationwide due to staff shortages, and hospitals postponed most surgeries and appointments following a walkout or nurses.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Portugal general strike over labour reform halts trains, flights, shuts schools

VIDEO SHOWS: GENERAL STRIKE IN LISBON / TRAINS AT SANTA APOLONIA TRAIN STATION / CLOSED SCHOOLS, METRO STATION AND AFFECTED HOSPITAL / COMMENTS BY CGTP UNION GENERAL SECRETARY AND LISBON RESIDENT ON STRIKE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: LISBON, PORTUGAL (JUNE 3, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF TRAINS AT SANTA APOLONIA TRAIN STATION

2. CGTP UNION MEMBERS AT TRAIN STATION

3. VARIOUS OF SCHEDULE BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED TRAINS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CGTP GENERAL SECRETARY, TIAGO OLIVEIRA, SAYING:

"The appeal that CGTP has made to workers is for them to make today the moment to make their voices heard, to make today a major general strike, to make today a moment of struggle, of demands and of opposition to this labour package, because it is with the strength of the workers that we will be able to defeat it."

5. CLEANING WORKER AT TRAIN STATION

6. UNION MEMBERS AT TRAIN STATION

7. UNION MEMBER WEARING VEST READING (Portuguese): “General strike”

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BANK EMPLOYEE, RODRIGO AZEVEDO, SAYING:

"We vehemently reject this labour package. I reject it, and so do the young workers across the country who have been supporting this struggle since the labour package was presented. We are seeing more and more young people getting involved, including in the unions, and that is also a message of hope that is important to convey today."

9. UNION MEMBERS AT TRAIN STATION

10. VARIOUS OF CLOSED METRO STATION

11. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF SANTA MARIA HOSPITAL, IMPACTED BY STRIKE

12. VARIOUS OF CLOSED SCHOOL