Just a few weeks after the huge disruptions at Faro airport pictured here, inspectors and administrative staff of Portugal's immigration and borders service (SEF) will hold a six-day strike over the Easter period.
Yesterday, the union of the immigration and borders service employees (SINSEF), which includes employees with non-police functions, gave notice of a strike for April 5th and 6th.
The SCIF/SEF ("Union of the investigation and surveillance staff of the SEF") has also given notice of a strike between 6th and 10th April, coinciding with the Easter period, which could cause major disturbances at airports.
The reason for the strike is the integration of SEF workers into the Judiciary Police (PJ), the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) and the future Portuguese Agency for Migrations and Asylum (APMA) as part of the restructuring process of that body, whose union negotiations with the government on the draft decree-law regulating the transfer of employees are underway.
The unions are against the way in which the government intends to transfer the workers, and the inspectors' union considers that the draft decree-law regulating the transfer of SEF inspectors to the PJ does not guarantee the principle of "equal work, equal pay".
In the strike notice, the union representing SEF administrative staff regrets "the time that has passed since the beginning of this merger process" and that these workers "continue with their future uncertain", and that they had expectations of enhancement of their activity and their career.
There are currently around 900 inspectors and 700 non-police personnel working at SEF.
Source Lusa
Photo by Sharon's Solutions Algarve taken on March 17th 2023, the previous SEF strike day.
