“The strike began at midnight and the results are quite favourable, with a lot of support, especially in schools and hospitals,” said Diogo Nina from the National Union of Workers in Services and Entities with Public Purposes (STTS), which called the strike.

According to the union leader, the strike “should be between 90% and 100% in some places”, mainly in schools, hospitals and health centres.

In the health sector, the strike is “postponing consultations and many scheduled surgeries”, said Diogo Nina in statements in front of the Santa Maria Hospital, in Lisbon, without giving any figures.

Union delegate Matilde Pereira added that, at around 8:45 am, several schools in the country were closed, but also without needing to be.

“In Gaia [in Porto] all schools are closed, a similar scenario in several regions of the country”, said the union leader, referring to data on strike participation in the health sector for later.

Diogo Nina highlighted that the strike is for the entire public administration, with the expectation that participation will increase in the morning and afternoon shifts, because in the night shift there were minimum services.

Due to the strike by civil servants affiliated with the union that called it, impacts are expected on public services in the education, health, Federal Revenue and Institute of Registries and Notary (IRN) sectors.

The president of the National Union of Workers in Services and Public Entities (STTS), who called this strike, previously told Lusa that "mass participation" is expected.

"The strike is national, for all workers, regardless of their employment status and career," recalled Mário Rui, highlighting that in education, for example, operational assistants, auxiliary technicians, technical assistants and teachers are covered, while in health professionals such as doctors, nurses, auxiliary health technicians and operational assistants will be able to join the strike.

The union leader stressed that greater participation is expected than that which occurred in February, during the last strike, pointing out that there is already greater interest on the part of workers, who have questions answered and access to more information.

The STTS called this strike due to the degradation of working conditions and a lack of appreciation.

In a statement, the union structure said that civil servants are “fed up with low wages, devaluation of careers, empty promises and a management that does not recognize the importance of public services for society”.