Nationwide Strike: Rallies and Transport Disruptions

Protest rallies organized by GSEE, ADEDY, and the Athens Labour Centre are taking place today at Klathmonos Square, as part of the 24-hour nationwide strike against the government’s proposed labor bill.

Public Transport

Transit workers are also participating in the strike, leading to significant disruptions.

• Buses and Trolleybuses: Services will operate only between 09:00 and 21:00, due to work stoppages at the start and end of shifts.
  The workers’ unions state they are fighting for “safe, modern and reliable public transport” and are demanding the signing of Collective Labour Agreements, restoration of collective bargaining rights, abolition of anti-labour memorandum provisions, and measures to improve service reliability.

  Routes assigned to the Attica Transport Consortium are expected to operate normally.

• Trams: Will run from 09:00 to 17:00 to help facilitate access to rallies.

• Metro (Lines 1, 2, and 3): Will also operate from 09:00 to 17:00 for the same reason.

• Railways: No service is available on the entire railway network, including suburban lines. Hellenic Train announced that some evening services will be replaced by buses on specific routes. Passengers are advised to check timetables via ticket offices, the website www.hellenictrain.gr, or the customer service line at 14511.

Maritime Transport

Ships remain docked in ports across Greece, as the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) has joined the strike.

The strike affects all categories of vessels and will last from 00:01 until midnight. According to PNO, the government’s new labor bill—which allows working days of up to 13 hours—effectively abolishes the long-standing principle of “8 hours work, 8 hours rest, 8 hours free time.”

Seafarers’ unions stress that long hours already endanger workers’ health, safety, and family life. Port workers’ unions, including OMYLE, have also joined the protest, demanding the bill’s withdrawal, reinstatement of collective agreements, and measures to improve working conditions.

Taxis

The Attica Taxi Drivers Association (SATA) is also on strike. In its announcement, SATA condemned the government’s labor policies and demanded decent working conditions, highlighting the pressures faced by self-employed drivers and the impact of deregulation and competition from multinational ride-hailing platforms.

Union Demands

• GSEE (General Confederation of Greek Workers) calls for mass participation in the strike, demanding the withdrawal of the bill, reduction of working hours, and full restoration of collective bargaining. It argues that a 37.5-hour work week is fair and effective, stressing: “Exhaustion is not growth—human endurance has limits.”

• ADEDY (Civil Servants’ Confederation) demands restoration of the 13th and 14th salaries, pay increases, collective agreements in the public sector, abolition of the new disciplinary law, and a 35-hour, five-day working week for all workers. Its rally is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at Klathmonos Square.

Teachers’ federations (IOE, OLME, and OIELE) have also urged participation, demanding similar measures, including salary increases, restoration of lost wages, and collective agreements.