CP – Comboios de Portugal today warned of disruptions between October 24 and November 3, with special cases on October 31, due to a strike called by the Confederation of Touring Commercial Railways (SFRCI).
In a note published on its website, the railway company informed that “due to the strike called by the SFRCI union between October 24 and November 3, 2024,” the company expects disruptions in the operation.
Thus, on October 28, 29 and 30, when there will be a partial strike, CP expects disruptions in the regional/regional services, Coimbra metropolitan and Porto metropolitan services.
Already on October 31, when there will be a complete 24-hour shutdown, “severe disruptions are expected on all services (Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, Regional/InterRegional, Urban and Celta Internacional),” including “some disruptions the following day.” .
“In the remaining days there may be occasional disturbances,” specifically on urban and intercity services in Lisbon between the Algarve and Lisbon.
“If minimum services are determined, this information will be updated,” he noted.
The union, which Lusa contacted, confirmed the strike, noting that the strikes will be partial, lasting two hours at the beginning of each shift, and on October 31, the strike will continue for 24 hours.
According to a source from SFRCI, which represents workers and auditors at CP's ticket office, the strikes are motivated by what they say is “non-compliance with the agreement” they signed in July last year with the operator.
The protest is “related to wages,” and according to the union, the agreement stipulates the conversion of “transportation and availability allowance bonus to basic salary,” which would bring benefits to workers. The union wants greater balance regarding train drivers' salaries.
He stressed that “the agreement was signed in the past, was ratified by guardianship last year, and is present in the state budget for this year,” noting that “the company has the funds, but it is not implementing the agreement,” scheduled for December 1. 2023.
He criticized, “This is the first time that it has happened to us that the agreements signed with the administrations have not been fulfilled,” expressing his regret at having to return “to a labor struggle that was closed.”
Last year, CP was affected by several strikes called by the company's unions, a situation that was resolved through an agreement signed with the structures.
In the notice published today, the operator told customers that they “already have tickets purchased for travel on trains for Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, Internacional, InterRegional and Regional services” which “will allow a refund of the full value of the ticket purchased.” Or replace it free of charge with another train of the same category and in the same class.”
This process can be carried out on the transport company's website or at ticket offices.
“After this period, and up to 10 days after the end of the strike, a refund can be requested by filling out the online contact form ‘Refund for delay or cancellation’ and sending a scan of the original ticket,” he concluded.
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