Greece’s main labor unions have called for a general strike on Wednesday to protest the rising cost of living and demand better wages and collective agreements.
Strike action announced by GSEE, the General Confederation of Greek Workers, and ADEDY, the Federation of Public Sector Employees, will bring public transport to a standstill, while rallies will be held in central Athens and other major cities across the country.
Journalists will strike a day earlier, and pensioners are planning a rally on Friday.
Additionally, the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO), along with federations representing private-sector education, construction and related trades, public hospital workers, and banking organizations, had announced by Monday afternoon their participation in the general strike.
The union of OASA, the Athens Urban Transport Organisation, operating the metro, tram and trolleybus services in the Athens metropolitan area, along with the board of ILPAP, the trolley bus company, have announced two work stoppages on Wednesday: the first from the start of early-morning shifts until 9 a.m., and the second from 9 p.m. until the end of the day’s shifts.
Urban bus lines, whose operation has been taken on by the Attica Public Transport Consortium, and intercity KTEL routes are expected to run all day Wednesday.
Railway workers have decided to join Wednesday’s 24-hour strike, following a decision by the Panhellenic Federation of Railway Workers (POS).
The Federation of Hospital Doctors of Greece (OENGE) will also participate in Wednesday’s strike, highlighting critical doctor shortages at public hospitals and the challenges patients face when trying to undergo essential medical tests.