To the Portuguese people, and to our colleagues at the Federação dos Sindicatos de Transportes e Comunicações,
On behalf of the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), we express our deepest condolences and solidarity following the tragic accident involving the Elevador da Glória in Lisbon, which has now claimed the lives of 16 people and injured many others. We extend our solidarity to the trade union SITRA and the family of its member, the tram driver André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, who unfortunately lost his life in this accident.
This is a moment of profound grief for the families affected, for the city of Lisbon, and for all transport workers across Europe. The Elevador da Glória is not only a symbol of Lisbon’s heritage. It is a workplace. And this tragedy reminds us, in the most painful way, that safety in public transport must never be compromised.
We stand firmly with the Federação dos Sindicatos de Transportes e Comunicações in their assessment of the root causes. The decision to externalise maintenance, despite repeated warnings from workers, reflects a broader trend that ETF has long opposed. It undermines public service capacity and often sacrifices safety, accountability and workers’ rights.
As the local union rightly stated, Carris always had the means to ensure safe and reliable maintenance. That capacity was dismantled through deliberate political choices. This accident must be a turning point. We call on all public authorities and transport operators to re-evaluate the consequences of outsourcing and to restore robust, internal maintenance systems that prioritise safety and worker expertise.
ETF will stand available to support our Portuguese colleagues in demanding a full and transparent investigation, accountability for those responsible, and structural changes to prevent such tragedies in the future.
