Firefighters in Portugal are frustrated after the government stopped discussions about improving their salaries and working conditions. The president of the National Firefighters’ Union (SNBS) Ricardo Cunha has accused officials of using a protest outside the meeting as an excuse to walk away. He believes this was a deliberate move to avoid addressing firefighters demands.

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SNBS Leader Accuses Government

Cunha also said the government is trying to make firefighters look like the problem. The union is now calling for stronger action to demand fair treatment.

He said:

This was not about safety concerns; it was about escaping responsibility

The day began with union leaders preparing to meet government representatives at Campus XII in Lisbon. Around 300 firefighters gathered outside the building peacefully to protest. They were voicing concerns about low wages, poor risk allowances, and unfair working conditions.

But the government soon announced it was suspending the talks by saying safety concerns. Officials claimed that the protest outside had created a chaotic situation with reports of injuries and a lack of security.

Cunha strongly disagreed with this narrative. He said:

We didn’t even realise what was going on outside because we couldn’t hear anything inside. We were all taken by surprise. They said that there were no safety conditions, that there were injuries, but we have since realised this was not true.

Maybe it was a pretext: when they realized that the unions were all saying that the proposal, as it was, was non-negotiable… It was a way they found to be able to get out of negotiations, by demonising firefighters

Union representatives waited inside for over an hour and hoped that the meeting will restart. However, the government did not return and leave the union leaders with no choice but to leave the building.

They joined the firefighters outside who had remained gathered near the government’s headquarters. The crowd was disappointed but not defeated. Instead, their frustration turned into determination.

Vice-president of SNBS Leonel Mateus said:

From now on, all forms of struggle will be considered

Mateus warned that firefighters would now consider all possible forms of protest to get their voices heard.

Firefighters Reject Government Proposal

Firefighters in Portugal have been struggling for years. They are often underpaid and overworked despite the dangerous and essential work they do. Their responsibilities include responding to wildfires and floods.

Their pay does not reflect the risks they take. Many firefighters also work long hours without fair compensation especially those employed by municipalities.

These issues have been a source of frustration for a long time but the government has made little effort to address them.

Cunha said:

Our work saves lives, but the government treats us like we don’t matter. This is not just about money. It’s about respect and fairness.

The government’s latest proposal was supposed to address these problems but it fell far short of expectations. Cunha described it as an insult to firefighters and said it did nothing to improve their situation.

One of the main issues was the proposed salary increase. The government suggested a small raise but it will only take effect in 2027. Firefighters will have to wait three more years without any meaningful change to their pay.

Another issue was the risk allowance. Firefighters often face life threatening situations but the allowance offered was just 100 euro per month. Even worse, this amount will also only start in 2027 and firefighters will need to work an extra 31 hours a month to receive it.

Cunha said:

This is unrealistic, offensive and goes against the grain of municipalities that use firefighters to enslave them, forcing them to work for hours on end without paying them and this was a way of enslaving them in a legal way

He added that the plan would legalize the exploitation of firefighters and allow municipalities to continue forcing them to work long hours without fair pay.

Firefighters Demand Respect And Better Working Conditions

The union is calling for the government to take firefighters concerns seriously. They want better wages, a fair risk allowance, and improved working conditions. These demands are not new but the government has yet to respond in a meaningful way.

Cunha said that firefighters are the first who respond to disasters when happen. They deserve to be treated with dignity. but they are being ignored.

Firefighters also want the public to understand their struggles. Mateus said that we are not just asking for ourselves.

The SNBS is asking the government to return to the negotiation table with a better proposal. Union leaders believe a fair solution is possible but only if the government is willing to listen.

The union has already begun planning new protests. Mateus said firefighters are ready to escalate their actions if the government continues to ignore their demands. This will include larger demonstrations and other forms of disruption in the coming weeks.

Firefighters also plan to reach out to the public for support. They believe people will stand with them because of the vital role they play in keeping communities safe.

The government now has a choice. It can either continue to dismiss firefighters concerns or take real steps to address them.

Cunha said:

We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for what we have earned through years of hard work and sacrifice.