“The meeting ended without a positive response to the issues of salary updates and the move to a 35-hour work week,” Manuel Leal, leader of the Portuguese Union of Road and Urban Transport Workers (STRUP), told Lusa. Leal met with the management of Carris, the Lisbon Railway Company, the capital's public transport operator.

He added that the union will “submit strike notice for 18 September, as decided in a workers' plenary meeting”.

The 24-hour strike will cover all sectors of the company.

Carris workers are demanding a 100 euro pay rise and a reduction in working hours to 35 hours per week, including travel time during working hours, as well as an update on the meal allowance.

In the meantime, the company has made an increase of 60 euros, but the union is now asking for 40 euros to be added to meet the demand for an additional 100 euros in the pay scale.

In July, Carris workers went on partial strike, demanding better working conditions.