Lisbon, April 18, 2025 (Lusa) - Dozens of tourists expressed sadness and frustration on Friday when they found the monuments in the Belém area of Lisbon closed due to a strike by workers demanding an increase in overtime pay on public holidays.
The strike on overtime and on public holidays by the porter and guard workers at the 38 Museums and Monuments of Portugal facilities, called by the National Federation of Unions of Workers in Public and Social Functions (FNSTFPS), began today and has been called for all public holidays until the end of this year.
According to trade unionist Catarina Simão, at around 10.30 a.m., at least the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, the Sagres Fortress, the Convent of Christ (Tomar) and the Paço de Guimarães were closed.
In Lisbon, the Coach Museum, the Tile Museum and the Ancient Art Museum were closed, as were the Machado de Castro Museum in Coimbra, the Rainha D. Leonor Museum (Beja), and the Frei Manuel do Cenáculo Museum (Évora).
In front of the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, a sign explained in Portuguese and English the strikes preventing access to Portugal's most visited monument: "Monument closed due to strike".
On a morning of heavy rain, groups of tourists couldn't hide their sadness, frustration and disappointment when they were denied access.
"There's no right that we've come from Spain and can't get in on Good Friday. And with the tickets bought," complained Manoli, who had come as part of a group from Madrid for a getaway to Lisbon, where she won't be staying for longer.
From much further away, in Mexico City, came Marcela, who couldn't hide the same disappointment felt by Judy and CK, who had come from the United States to visit the Portuguese capital.
"I've come a long way and this is Lisbon's most important place to visit. So I'm very sad that I can't go in, really," said the Mexican, who wanted to visit the Jerónimos and was going to try to adapt her plans in Lisbon so that she could still return.
"We'll try to go back tomorrow, but we have the whole trip planned. We don't know if we'll make it. We'll try," said Judy.
Outside the monument, Orlando Almeida, from the FNSTFPS, explained things to the tourists and assured journalists that "the workers are together and are mobilised to fight, to demand fair pay for public holiday work and fair pay for overtime work".
The trade unionist said that the workers' representatives met with the culture minister in December, and there was a commitment to negotiate from January onwards. Still, there was only one meeting at the end of March "where no proposal was presented".
"It's obvious that the workers need an answer, they need their work to be valued, because these workers open the museums, our heritage, on public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays. It's a sector that's also extremely important for tourism and education (...) That's why it's only fair that they be recognised," he said.
According to the union official, these employees have been forgotten in the list of 17 careers that the government says it has already valued, and they continue to earn around "15 to 20 euros a day" or "around three euros an hour" for overtime work.
"Coming on a public holiday, and maybe there are some cases where they have to come by their own transport, spend on petrol, fuel, tolls, if that's the case, it almost comes to paying to come to work," he said.
In the meantime, Museus e Monumentos de Portugal said in a written response to Lusa that it "will continue to dialogue with the unions and with the authorities, to progressively respond to the demands of its workers, including those, such as overtime pay, which imply a review of the legal framework currently in force".
In 2023, the 38 museums and monuments of Portugal had more than five million visitors, not all of whom paid.
According to the union, this public company has around 1,100 workers.
RCS/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
