British news portal Independent reports on the 2nd day of a strike called by the Greek seafarers’ union which has affected an estimated 180,000 passengers including a large volume of foreign visitors to the Greeks islands.
Thousands of holidaymakers have been stranded on Greece’s islands due to a 24-hour ferry strike by the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO).
Members of the union are reportedly seeking a 5 per cent increase for ferry crews, a request which they claim is long overdue as pay has remained static for eight years.The strike, which is due to run until 11.59pm today, is predicted to affect around 180,000 people who have booked travel to and from some of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations, according to the Greek Shipowners Association for Passenger Ships (SEEN).
A meeting between shipowners and the union that took place on 29 August failed to reach an agreement, with union members being offered only a 1 per cent increase, according to reports by World Maritime News.The industrial action, which was announced in July, will affect tourists travelling to and from the popular tourist destinations of Crete, Santorini and Mykonos to the Greek mainland.
It comes just one day after ferry operators laid on extra services to cover high demand at the end of the summer holiday period.more at independent.co.uk
