Portuguese transport workers strike

Portuguese commuters struggled to get to work today as public transport workers went on strike in protest at the government’s austerity measures.

The centre-right government is locked into a programme of pay cuts and tax hikes in return for a €78bn bailout Portugal needed earlier this year to avoid bankruptcy.

The government is also curtailing workers’ entitlements in an effort to make the recession-hit economy more competitive.

Those measures, and plans to rationalise loss-making public transport companies, have angered trade unions.

Staff at the national rail company Comboios de Portugal and the Lisbon subway walked off the job during the morning rush-hour.

Bus and ferry workers were also due to strike later in the day.