LISBON, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- A 24-hour strike by workers in the general careers of Portugal's public administration caused widespread disruptions across the country on Friday, with schools closed, health services severely affected and citizen service offices shut.
The stoppage, held days before the government is to present its 2027 state budget proposal, began at midnight and involves approximately 350,000 workers including operational assistants, technical assistants and senior technicians in central, local and regional public administration,
The impact of the strike, called jointly by three trade union federations, was most visible in education, but disruptions were reported at hospitals, social security services, civil registry and notary offices, justice services and refuse collection.
Thousands of demonstrators marched from Praca da Figueira to the Finance Ministry in Lisbon, where union representatives delivered a resolution with workers' demands.
At the center of the dispute is a demand for a 15 percent pay increase for all public sector workers, with a minimum raise of 150 euros per month, as well as the immediate revision of general career structures.
The strike puts pressure on the government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro ahead of a first round of salary negotiations scheduled for Oct. 6 with three public sector union structures. The state budget proposal for 2027 is due to be submitted to parliament on Oct. 9. ■