Government's 'Tainted' Salary Negotiations Spark Public Sector Strike Threat

Government Maintains Unchanged Salary Proposal

Public administration unions met with the government for the second time, but the Executive maintains its proposal of a 2.15% increase for salaries above €2,631 and a minimum increase of €56.58 for salaries up to that amount.

Unions Denounce 'Unacceptable' Stance

After the meeting with the Secretary of State for Public Administration at the Ministry of Finance, the coordinator of the Common Front considered it "unacceptable" that the government postponed presenting "a different proposal."

For the Common Front, the negotiation is "tainted from the start" because the Executive presented the OE2026 proposal and only "then continues negotiations with the unions" of the Public Function.

Faced with "the negotiation impasse," Sebastião Santana reminded of the strike called for October 24.

Technical Staff Union Calls for Parliamentary Opposition Unity

Also after the meeting with the Secretary of State, the Union of State Technical Staff (STE) admitted that the value of salary increases will only be different if the parliamentary opposition unites.

STE expects increases in the meal allowance and the restoration of three vacation days (removed by the troika). The next meeting with the unions, which will be the third, is scheduled for the end of the month, October 29. The first government meeting with the Public Function unions took place on September 26.

2026 State Budget Aligns with European Recommendations

Regarding the State Budget for 2026, the government submitted the budgetary plan to the European Commission.

Lisbon ensures that the new measures fit the specific recommendations from Brussels.