Civil Protection emergency telecoms staff begin week-long strike

Emergency telecommunications operators at Portugal’s Civil Protection authority began a week-long strike today, demanding the creation of a dedicated professional career path while insisting that emergency response services will remain fully operational.

The industrial action, which runs until July 3, comes just days before Portugal enters the high-risk Delta phase of its annual wildfire season, when additional firefighters, equipment and emergency resources are deployed across the country.

According to the Independent Union of Forestry, Environment and Civil Protection Workers (SinFAP), minimum service levels have been agreed, ensuring that despite the strike there will be no disruption to emergency assistance for the public.

Union president Alexandre Carvalho told Portuguese broadcaster TSF that emergency telecommunications operators have long been overlooked despite playing a critical role in disaster response.

“These are technical assistants carrying out the work of telecommunications operators, yet they have no dedicated career structure. Year after year they are undervalued and largely invisible because the public rarely sees the work they do (…) They are present in every emergency operation, but behind the communications systems rather than on the front line.”

The union recently met with Portugal’s Ministry of Internal Administration, which, according to Carvalho, has agreed to open formal negotiations on establishing a dedicated professional career for the operators.

Despite that commitment, SinFAP decided to proceed with the strike to underline the importance of emergency communications during disasters and major incidents.

Because operators work rotating shifts, the strike effectively began at 8pm last night.

Alongside career recognition, the union is also calling for another reorganisation of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC). It wants the restoration of the former District Rescue Operations Commands, which were replaced in 2023 by 24 Sub-Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Commands.

While emergency services will continue uninterrupted, the union said some administrative work is expected to be delayed during the strike, including the issuing of operational readiness notices and other communications.

Carvalho acknowledged that the union often resorts to industrial action during Portugal’s critical wildfire periods because it is one of the few times the work of emergency telecommunications staff receives public attention.

Source: LUSA

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.