CP today warned of the possibility of disruptions in train circulation next week, on July 22 and 24, due to a strike called by several unions, according to a notice released today by the carrier.
“We would like to inform you that, due to strikes called by the ASCEF, ASSIFECO, FENTCOP, SINAFE, SINDEFER, SINFA, SINFB, SIOFA, SNAQ, SNTSF, STF and STMEFE unions, for the period between 00:00 and 24:00 on July 22 and 24, 2024, traffic disruptions are expected with an impact on July 22 and 24,” CP said.
The carrier also said that it will update the information if minimum services are defined.
“For customers who have already purchased tickets to travel on Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, International, Interregional and Regional trains, CP will allow them to be refunded the full value of the ticket purchased, or to exchange it free of charge for another train in the same category and class,” it said.
Refunds or exchanges can be made on the CP website or at ticket offices, up to 15 minutes before departure. You can also ask for your money back up to 10 days after the strike.
The strike was announced earlier this month in a statement by the Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (Fectrans).
These workers had already gone on strike on June 28.
For the unions, “it is unacceptable” that CP’s management, after having guaranteed that it would extend to all workers an agreement that was concluded with a trade union organization, wants to make this conditional on the acceptance of the proposed career regulation.
The government, CP and the National Union of Portuguese Railway Train Drivers (SMAQ), which had called a strike between June 27 and July 14, which was suspended, recently reached an agreement. The operator also reached an agreement with the Sindicato Ferroviário da Revisão Comercial Itinerante (SFRCI) regarding the revision of careers, including a 1.5% wage increase and a rise in the meal allowance to 9.20 euros.
Fectrans argued that the proposal “increases the polyvalence of functions and does not value the salary scale”, which it said was a “strategic measure” to recruit new workers and retain current ones.
