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Members of the 870,000 strong General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) and independent unions struck across Portugal today shutting down schools, public transportation, non-emergency hospital care, garbage collection and many flights. The one-day strike was called to protest labor law changes proposed by the government, which would weaken minimum work-hour standards, create probationary employment periods during which new employees would have reduced protections, and make it easier for companies to lay off workers. Civil servants have struck three times over the past two months to protest the changes, but the approximately 800,000-member General Workers' Union has so far avoided strike action in the hopes of negotiating changes in the proposal, which has not yet been sent to Parliament.