Figure discussion after public strike in Portugal: Government says 12 percent, unions say 60-90 percent

After the 24-hour strike of public administration employees in Portugal on October 2, a large difference in figures emerged between the government and the unions regarding the participation rate.

While the government announced the general participation rate of the strike as approximately 12 percent, CGTP-affiliated unions that organized the strike claimed that participation in various sectors and services was between 60 percent and 90 percent.

While it is confirmed that the strike caused disruptions in schools, health units and various public services, it should be noted that the percentages announced by the two sides do not measure the same thing.

Why are the numbers so different?

It is not a new situation in Portugal that participation rates announced by the government and unions differ in strikes.

One of the main reasons for this is that the data scope and calculation methods used may be different.

The government's figure of around 12 percent is based on broader turnout data collected from public administration.

Unions, on the other hand, report much higher participation rates in certain workplaces, municipalities, schools or services.

Therefore, it is not correct to interpret the 60-90 percent range announced by the unions as "60-90 percent of all public employees in Portugal participated in the strike."

Likewise, very high participation in certain institutions does not have to directly contradict the government's countrywide calculation.

Schools and healthcare impressed

The strike was felt especially in personnel-intensive public services.

While activities were disrupted in some schools, there were also restrictions in health units and various public institutions that provide direct services to citizens.

But the impact was not equal across the country.

While one institution was operating normally, another public service in the same city could experience serious staff shortages.

The reason for this is that the right to strike is exercised on an employee basis and participation varies from institution to institution.

Who did the strike involve?

The action was specifically aimed at those working in carreiras gerais, or general careers, in public administration.

Among these groups:

assistentes operacionais, assistentes técnicos and técnicos superiores.

According to previous statements of the unions, there are approximately 350 thousand employees in these categories in central and local public administration.

However, the 350 thousand figure is not the number of people who actually participated in the strike; potential employee base covered by a strike call.

What are the unions' demands?

The basis of the action is wages and career conditions of public employees.

Unions are demanding improved wages, better recognition of professional duties and more comprehensive negotiations with the government before the 2027 public budget process.

This is why it is important that the strike took place shortly before the 2027 State Budget proposal was presented to the Parliament.

However, after the October 2 strike, the government There is no decision indicating that it has accepted their demands or that a new wage regulation has come into force.

What will happen next?

The real political and working life impact of the strike will not be measured solely by how many people did not go to work on October 2.

The real decisive developments will emerge in the 2027 State Budget, public employee wage updates and government-union negotiations.

Therefore, the issue that needs to be monitored beyond the discussion of the figures between 12 percent and 60-90 percent is whether the strike will create a concrete change on public wage policy.

Resources

RTP — Sindicatos falam em “forte adesão” à strike. Governo aponta aos 12 por cento, 2 October 2026

https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/sindicatos-falam-em-forte-adesao-a-greve-governo-aponta-aos-12-por-cento_v1769248

CGTP-IN — Public employee strike announcements

https://www.cgtp.pt/