Customer service desk workers at the National Pensions Centre and the Lisbon District Centre of the Social Security Institute will go on strike on Friday, protesting against the "degradation of services" that "have worsened over the years". The strike was called by the Union of Public and Social Service Workers of the South and Autonomous Regions (STFPSSRA) and a gathering of workers is planned for 11:00 at the entrance to the headquarters of the Social Security Institute in Lisbon.

Speaking to Lusa news agency, Joaquim Ribeiro, from the STFPSSRA, estimates that the strike will involve around "170 to 180 workers" and anticipates that it will be "very significant, with many constraints and the closure of many customer service desks". According to the union leader, customer service services may “close at the headquarters and in most local customer service departments in the district”.

The aim is to challenge the “degradation of customer service, which has worsened over the years”, both in terms of “degradation of facilities, broken air conditioning, broken or poorly maintained blinds and windows”, and in terms of safety conditions, as well as in terms of “workers leaving for retirement or moving to other public services, never filled by new arrivals”, which leads to “an overload of work”.

Therefore, one of the demands is the “immediate hiring of workers”, with the union leader pointing out that “at least 30 to 40 workers are needed”.

On the other hand, “the Government and the Board of Directors must acknowledge that these roles are demanding, specific, create stress and are risky, and for this reason, workers must be compensated,” adds Joaquim Ribeiro, noting that there is currently “inequality between workers,” since when the Citizens’ Shops opened, the Social Security Institute workers who went to these shops started receiving a shop allowance.

However, “workers who went later” and those “who work in the local Social Security services that perform the same functions also do not receive a shop allowance,” he explains. When the Government accepts that this is a reality, then we will start demanding the amount,” he stresses.

Another of the main demands concerns safety conditions and the “demand for more authorities in customer service departments.” According to Joaquim Ribeiro, “many” of the Social Security customer service departments in the district of Lisbon “do not have PSP agents present,” citing Vila Franca de Xira, Azambuja and Alenquer as examples. “And those that do have it must be reinforced,” he concludes.