Workers in Greece’s hospitality and tourism sector will hold a 24-hour nationwide strike on Wednesday, 24 June, with rallies planned in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and several other cities.

The strike has been called by POEET, the Panhellenic Federation of Employees in Food Service and Tourism, as part of broader labour action involving workers from several key sectors of the Greek economy, including construction, food and beverages, retail and regional authority employees.

The unions’ central demands focus on higher wages, stronger public healthcare and education, and improved labour protections. POEET has said the strike was called unanimously across the food service and tourism sector, with local unions organising gatherings around the country.

Main strike rallies

In Athens, the main rally will take place at Kaningos Square at 11:00.

In Thessaloniki, workers will gather outside EFKA, Greece’s main social security agency, at 10:30.

In Patras, the gathering will be held at the Labour Centre at 10:30.

Mobilisations are also expected in other cities, including Agrinio, Ioannina, Heraklion, Kavala, Karditsa, Kozani, Rethymno and Chania.

The action comes at the height of Greece’s summer tourism season, when restaurants, cafés, hotels and other hospitality businesses are under intense pressure and seasonal workers make up a large part of the workforce.