Workers at the bars and onboard service on CP's Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains are on their fourth day of an indefinite strike this Thursday, September 3, with 95% adherence. The stoppage, which began on August 31, is promoted by the Union of Workers in the Hotel Industry, Tourism, Restaurants and Similar Industries of the South and affects workers at Itau, the concessionaire company for the meals and bar service on long-distance trains since April 1. Most long-distance trains are operating without meals and bar service.
The union accuses the concessionaire of refusing, from the very first day, to respect rights enshrined in the company agreement applicable to workers, having aggravated the conflict by removing the payment corresponding to 22 days of meal allowance. Workers are demanding full compliance with the company agreement, restoration of the meal allowance, fair wage increases with retroactive effects from January 2026, updating of monetary expression clauses, dignified working conditions, and the negotiation of a new company agreement with Itau.
On September 1, workers held a demonstration outside the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing and the Secretary of State for Mobility and Transport. A delegation was received by the chief of staff of the Secretary of State for Mobility and Transport, Cristina Dias, who committed to promoting a meeting with the government official.
The union considers that the concessionaire's non-compliance severely damages workers' monthly income, but also harms CP users, who are prevented from accessing the bar and meals service to which they are contractually entitled when purchasing their season ticket or travel ticket.
