Speaking to Lusa, Fernando Henriques, from Sitava, said that the strike had a turnout of around 40%, warning of the use of temporary workers and managers during the strike. And he warned that 2025 will be a year of "major labour conflict" at Portway, a handling company that provides ground handling services at airports.

"There was a response in line with what we expected, considering that there are many, many hundreds of temporary workers", he highlighted, adding that there were also cases in which managers carried out "the work of the operatives". The strike covered permanent employees.

Contacted by Lusa, Portway said that "the strike declared by some unions", which began on December 24th, "had no impact, nor did it result in any flight cancellations.

Fernando Henriques accused the company of having committed irregularities in the strike, adding that Sitava would inform the competent authorities of this fact.

A lawsuit will also be filed against Portway for the 1% increase in salaries in 2024, which the company did not grant because it understood that the objectives that were the basis for it were not achieved, and which was the cause of this strike.

"What we envisage for 2025 is that it will be a year with great labour conflict at Portway", he highlighted, indicating that the four unions that were together in this process, also delivered "together a proposal for 2025, which includes an increase in salary table, but also some changes and some adjustments to the clauses of the company's agreement".

Even if they hope for a meeting in January, Fernando Henriques admits that the agreement will be complicated, as the two parties start from a different starting point, with the unions considering a 1% increase.

"Everything indicates that the process will be very complex and conflicting because our starting points will be different, Portway will certainly move forward with a proposal based on the table that it understands to be the January 2024 table that does not include that 1%", he highlighted.