The 1st part of the study “Inquiry on the working living conditions of train drivers in the Metropolitano de Lisboa” was presented at the Metro auditorium in Alto dos Moinhos, in Lisbon, by researchers from the Observatory for Living and Working Conditions.

The summary of the study report, which came after a request from the Lisbon Underground Traction Workers Union (STTM), was based on answers to 242 questions that outlined the profile and problems of train drivers.

According to the study, the first conclusion is the "high ratio between bullying and emotional exhaustion" and the second the "high ratio between monthly night hours and emotional exhaustion".

Sociologist João Areosa, one of the researchers in the study, outlined the profile of the subway driver, in his presentation: “a man, around 50 years old and with more than 20 years of professional experience”.

“Married, with a stable marital relationship and with one to two children. He enjoys a stable employment relationship, whose gross income is above two thousand euros. He has his own house, without being fully paid. He works between 35 and 40 hours a week. He performs his work on a monthly basis, at night, with workloads above 45 hours, also having rotating hours”.

João Areosa also added that a third of respondents said they had been “victim of bullying by the hierarchies”, a “very high” value according to the official.

The president of the Lisbon Underground Traction Workers Union (STTM), Silva Marques, began by highlighting that in 1997/98 there were around 460 train drivers and currently there are 250.

"They are less machinists, working in a larger network, with a greater volume of work", he stressed, stressing that the union took the initiative to request this study from the Observatory even before the pandemic.

The study was carried out by researchers Duarte Rolo, João Areosa, Henrique Silveira, Raquel Varela, Roberto della Santa, with the participation of Beatriz Santiago, José Antunes and Miguel Amaral.