Airport delays expected as SEF strike continues through August

Today, Aeroportos de Portugal have warned of the possibility of longer waiting times at airports from tomorrow until the end of August, due to the strike by workers of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).

Yesterday, the SEF union announced that employees working in the investigation and inspection roles of the Foreigners and Borders Service, who work at the main border posts in the country, will start a partial strike on Saturday that will last until the end of the month.

“ANA Aeroportos de Portugal informs that, due to the strike called by the SIIFF, the Union of Investigation, Surveillance and Border Inspectors, from August 14th to 31st, at times of greater international traffic, high waiting times are expected at the border control from the airports of Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal, Porto Santo and Ponta Delgada,” said the ANA statement.

However, the company guaranteed that “it will do everything in its power to mitigate the inconvenience caused to passengers, whom it thanks in advance for their understanding and cooperation” .

They ask that, “whenever possible, passengers travelling to countries outside the Schengen area should go earlier to boarding”.

In a statement, the Union of Investigation, Inspection and Borders Inspectors explained that this partial strike stems from the Government’s lack of response regarding the rights of these inspectors, following the approval of the proposed law that “provides for the dispersion of SEF’s police powers by the PJ , PSP and GNR”.