Lisbon, Dec. 8, 2025 (Lusa) - Workers at Portuguese museums and monuments are on Monday staging their last strike of the year against working on public holidays, due to the lack of response from the government, although the union points out that most facilities are closed because it is a Monday.
Reception and security workers at the 38 facilities managed by the public company Museus e Monumentos de Portugal (MMP) have been striking throughout the year on public holidays due to the government's lack of response to their demands.
Called by the National Federation of Public and Social Service Workers' Unions (FNSTFPS), the strike has closed several museums and monuments across the country, including some of the most visited in Portugal.
Today, the last public holiday of the year, another strike is taking place, but FNSTFPS leader Orlando Almeida warned that, as happened on the last public holiday on 1st December, the effect will not be felt at the level of museums, which close on Mondays.
According to Orlando Monteiro, there are expected to be restrictions on access to some palaces and monuments, namely the same ones that closed on the 1st December strike.
In an assessment of a day of strike action that, given the circumstances, was considered "good", the union leader indicated that the Convent of Christ, Guimarães Castle and the Palace of the Dukes, the Fortress of Sagres and the National Palace of Mafra were closed. The National Palace of Ajuda, on the other hand, was partially open.
"We expect the same turnout as we had on the other bank holiday, and the same facilities should be closed," Orlando Monteiro told Lusa.
These workers are demanding "fair compensation" for work done on bank days and are protesting the government's lack of response to their demands.
The strike, called by the FNSTFPS, has been going on since Easter in April, but the workers had already been on strike for several months in 2024 for the same reason.
According to the union, workers at museums, monuments and archaeological sites under public supervision receive less than €20 net for working on public holiday days, a figure they consider insufficient and unfair.
AL/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
