Greece Halts Flights and Ferries: Nationwide Strike Shutters the Country
Across Greece, a national general strike has caused widespread disruptions to public services, leaving ferries docked, flights canceled, and public transportation operating at reduced capacity. Labor unions are demanding an end to the ongoing austerity policies that have been enforced on Greece by international lenders over the past ten years.
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in central Athens for two distinct marches that concluded without incident.
A 24-hour strike was organized by the two primary federations representing employees in both public and private industries.
They are pursuing raises in wages along with a complete restoration of their collective bargaining rights, which were eliminated as part of the measures implemented under Greece’s international rescue packages during the country's economic downturn.
"We insist on raising all salaries, as they are insufficient to cover expenses even up to the 20th of each month," stated trade unionist Alekos Perrakis.
We urgently call for actions addressing health, education, and every concern where the well-being of laborers deteriorates as major corporations' earnings keep increasing.
Commercial flights to and from Greece as well as those within the country were halted from midnight on Wednesday until midnight on Thursday. In Athens, public transportation such as buses, trolleybuses, trains, trams, and the metro operated for limited hours during this period.
Currently, the nation is grappling with an increase in the cost of living, raising worries that the global financial instability sparked by US tariffs might exacerbate this issue and bring about additional difficulties.
"A statement from the General Confederation of Workers of Greece, the main federation for private-sector unions, highlighted that the rising cost of living is eroding workers' earnings, with no concern shown by the authorities," they noted, further stating that a significant portion of the nation’s populace dedicates over 40% of their income towards accommodation and warmth expenses.
Hotel Chef Georgios Skoufos stated, 'We are striving for higher wages since all current announcements fall short of what we require. These proposed raises are nullified due to escalating living costs, which compel us to make cuts elsewhere just to get by.'
The overarching federation for the public sector (ADEDY) has demanded raises in wages along with the reinstatement of holiday bonuses for civil servants. These benefits previously equaled two months’ pay before being eliminated as part of austerity policies implemented under the bailout agreements.
