"If this is not a case for a preventive civil requisition, then I don't know what it is," said André Matias de Almeida, representative and lawyer of the National Association of Public Road Hauliers of Goods (ANTRAM), calling the unions' position "socially irresponsible.

Speaking to Lusa, Almeida confirmed that it was not possible to reach an agreement with the National Union of Dangerous Goods Drivers (SNMMP) or the Independent Union of Merchandise Drivers (SIMM), after a meeting that took place today in the General Directorate of Employment and Labour Relations (DGERT), to define the minimum services for the strike, set for an indefinite period, beginning on August 12.

According to the ANTRAM spokesman, trade unions said in the meeting that they will only ensure minimum transport services and not any extra work, such as the unloading of goods.

Since no agreement has been reached on minimum services, these will now have to be enacted by the government.

In the strike notice given by the trade unions, minimum services of 25% were proposed throughout the country.

In a similar strike back in April, the government stipulated minimum services with 40% of workers in service, but only for Lisbon and Porto.

Subsequently, the Government decreed a civil requisition and then invited the parties to sit down at the negotiating table.

The high level of adherence to that three-day strike surprised everyone, including the union itself, and left most of the country's fuel stations dry.

On Monday, SIMM threatened more serious consequences for the strike to begin on 12 August than in April, through an open letter sent to newsrooms.

The union warned that, in addition to fuel, the next strike would also affect supplies to supermarkets, industry and services, and that "food and other goods may run out in supermarkets".