“We have information that there are many schools closed from Minho to the Algarve”, said Carla Piedade of the Union of All Teachers (STOP), while participating this morning in a rally in Pombal.

Since December 9, an indefinite strike called by STOP has been underway, which has already delivered strike notices for the entire month of January, which non-teaching workers joining on January 4.

The Independent Union of Teachers and Educators (SIPE) also started last week a partial strike for the first half of classes, which will last until February.

The strikes of teaching and non-teaching staff affect "almost all municipalities in the country", with many schools completely closed or only working part-time, Pedro Xavier, also from STOP, told Lusa.

The trade unionist highlighted the adherence of the workers, indicating the examples of Viana do Castelo, Póvoa do Varzim, Vila do Conde, Amarante, Moura, Portimão or Pombal as municipalities with all schools without classes.

“It is a little difficult to indicate the numbers, because we depend on communication from the schools. However, through a sample it is clear that in almost all municipalities in the country there are schools closed or workers on strike on a part-time basis, in which activities do not take place in full. There are even municipalities that have closed entirely, some for several days and up to a month” he said.