The partial strike was called by the Union of Commerce, Office and Service Workers of Portugal (CESP) and began on Tuesday, with two-hour stoppages per shift.

Like the other two days, "there was a massive adhesion of workers" to this protest, with several services closed, according to Orlando Gonçalves of CESP, who spoke to Lusa.

"The participation by the workers has been enormous. I think it will be one of the most participated strikes by EMEL workers," he pointed out, as an assessment.

As on Tuesday and Wednesday, several EMEL facilities remained closed today, namely the Olivais and Entrecampos towing yards, as well as the Graça funicular and the Laranjeiras and Campo Grande stores.

"It was a great success and a great demonstration of the workers' awareness of the need to be united in order to achieve their goals," he stressed.

The trade unionist regretted that neither the Lisbon City Council nor the EMEL administration had contacted the union to resume negotiations.

EMEL workers will meet on Friday, in a plenary session, at the Lisbon City Council, in an initiative that will be attended by the general secretary of CGTP, Tiago Oliveira.

This strike was called because EMEL workers, a company wholly owned by the Lisbon City Council, want the administration to "fulfil the commitments made in 2023 and that have not been implemented".

In addition to the salary increase, the implementation of shift work is one of the issues that most concerns EMEL workers.

Lusa contacted a source from the EMEL administration, but has not yet received a response.

In a note sent to Lusa on Monday, EMEL assured that it maintains the commitments made in the Company Agreement and its commitment to dialogue with the workers.

"The board of directors remains committed to social dialogue with the representative structures of the workers, contributing to a sustainable and harmonious balance of the company, reinforcing the labour rights of its employees, maintaining the commitments made in the current company agreement," read the EMEL note.

EMEL has about 700 employees.

Read also: New "massive" adhesion on the second day of the partial strike at EMEL (Portuguese version)