Union Secures Salary Adjustment Without Strike
The union representing transport and metalworkers in Madeira, STRAMM (Sindicato dos Trabalhadores Rodoviários e Actividades Metalúrgicas da Região Autónoma da Madeira), has successfully negotiated a salary increase for 2025 without resorting to strikes that were scheduled for June 25th and 26th. The agreement brings a monthly raise of €20 to the base salary, on top of previous plans already set by employers.
Workers will now receive €1,054.30 as base salary, up from €989.30 in 2024. The total monthly income - including allowances for food, seniority, and absence bonuses - can reach €1,597.30 for those with longer service. New employees will earn about €1,497.30 a month.
A Raise Without Disruption
STRAMM stated that its strategy focused on dialogue instead of protest. The union explained that avoiding a strike helped protect workers’ incomes and ensured service continued without problems for passengers. Instead of stopping work, STRAMM chose negotiation, leading to better results without lost wages. The union emphasized that by staying at the table, they were able to secure gains that matched or slightly exceeded the rising cost of living.
Once again, we show that a strike should not be the first tool used, but rather a last resort. And that’s how it should be—because of the harm it causes to urban transportation and to the daily lives of people who use these services, but above all, because of the financial loss it brings to the workers themselves.
Pay Increase Outpaces Inflation Forecast
According to the Bank of Portugal, inflation in 2024 was around 2.7% (higher according to other sources), and the estimate for 2025 is 2.3%. The new salary deal gives workers an average pay rise of about 5.6%, which means real growth in their purchasing power. The union believes this outcome is especially important during a period of rising prices and uncertainty.
Breakdown of the New Monthly Pay
The 2025 salary includes the following:
Base salary: €1,054.30
Single agent bonus*: €225.00
Absence bonus: €42.00
Seniority (5 levels): €100.00
Food allowance: €176.00
Total: €1,597.30
*The "Single Agent" bonus (€225.00) - in Portuguese "Agente Único" -refers to a specific payment made to workers who perform multiple tasks alone, usually without assistance from another crew member.
Compared to 2024, that’s a total gain of €84.50 per month for workers at the top of the pay scale. Workers without seniority bonuses will still see a significant improvement.
Source: Jornal da Madeira
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