Government meets again with public sector unions today

This is the second meeting within the scope of the negotiation process on the general salary update for 2026, after on September 26th the Secretary of State for Public Administration, Marisa Garrido, proposed to the unions an extension of the agreement in force, in order to cover the current legislature, that is, until 2029, and given that the current agreement only goes until 2028.

It is also the first meeting after the Government submitted, on Thursday, to the Assembly of the Republic the proposed State Budget for 2026 (OE2026), whose expenditure estimate for personnel costs is limited to the multi-year agreement in force.

The Trade Union Front, led by the State Technical Staff Union (STE), is the first to be received, at 9:00, followed by the National Federation of Trade Unions of Workers in Public and Social Functions (Common Front), at 10:30, and the Federation of Trade Unions of Public Administration and Entities with Public Purposes (Fesap), at 12:00.

In a statement sent after the first round of negotiations, the Ministry of Finance confirmed that the Government's initial proposal foresees increases of "2.30%, with a minimum of 60.52 euros, for the year 2029, maintaining the increases established for 2026, 2027 and 2028".

The current agreement, signed in November 2024 with two of the Public Service union structures (Fesap and Frente Sindical), provides for increases of 2.15%, with a minimum of 56.58 euros next year.

If this proposal is maintained, this means that the base salary in Public Administration (known as the minimum wage in the State) will rise from the current 878.41 euros to 934.99 euros in 2026.

For 2027 and 2028, the agreement establishes increases of 2.3%, with a minimum of 60.52 euros.

In the same note, the Ministry of Finance added that the proposal presented to the Public Service unions includes "other relevant matters", namely "the review of the current allowance regime, the evolution and review of SIADAP, as well as the remuneration status of Management Staff", in line with the measures provided for in the Government's program.

The agreement signed last year updated the value of the allowance for travel expenses by 5% starting this year.

The Government's initial proposal falls short of the requests made by the three unions representing public employees.

Fesap, which is part of the UGT, proposes that the base salary in the public sector rise to €973.41 in 2026 and a minimum increase of €95 for all workers, in addition to increasing the food allowance to €10 per day, tax-free.

Speaking to Lusa, the secretary general of Fesap points out that the Government's initial proposal is "manifestly insufficient", given that it "only responds to the extension of the agreement" that is in force and there are other matters that the union structure wants to see discussed.

"It has to do with the contributions to the 2026 State Budget [that we sent to the Government and] for which we have not received a response," says José Abraão, emphasizing that the issue at hand is "a rule related to the 2025 State Budget that concerns the autonomous regions, travel allowances, salaries," or the rescheduling of career paths that have not yet been revised. Only after the Government's feedback will Fesap consider presenting a possible new counterproposal.

The Trade Union Front, led by the STE, is demanding a 6.4% salary increase for all public employees in 2026 and an increase in the meal allowance to 12 euros.

Speaking to Lusa, the STE president admitted lowering these demands to reach a possible agreement with the government, although she preferred not to anticipate specific figures, but stressed that they will continue to insist on increases above those foreseen in the current agreement, hoping that "the Government will also increase its proposal."

In turn, the coordinator of the Common Front says he is waiting for the Government to respond to the proposal presented by this union structure, but indicates that "expectations are not high" in light of the OE2026 proposal presented.

"That's why we're maintaining the strike until October 24th," Sebastião Santana told Lusa.

This structure, which affects the CGTP, requires a 15% salary increase of at least 150 euros, starting January 1st, as well as an increase in the food allowance to 12 euros.

Read Also: OE2026 Proposal Does Not Respond to Needs and "Intensifies Exploitation"