Greeks go on nationwide strike to demand minimum wage

Greece’s largest umbrella trade union organization General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) has called for a 24-hour nationwide strike starting from today, Wednesday 28th of November.

The GSEE is commencing its strike rally from Klafthmonos Square in central Athens at 11am in the morning, urging workers, unemployed and pensioners to take part.

Representing the private sector, the GSEE has called for an end to excessive taxation, a minimum wage of 751 euros per month, collective labour agreements and a fair and viable social insurance system without cuts to benefits and pensions.

The strike will affect public transport in the greater Athens area, with STASY staff (metro, tram and trolley buses) participating in the strike and all three metro lines not operating throughout the day. Ferries will also not be running on Wednesday, due to the participation of the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) in the strike.

Athens buses will only be running between 9:00 in the morning until 21:00 at night, with bus workers holding two work stoppages from the start of the shift until 9:00 and from 21:00 until the end of the shift. Full bus operation is expected to be restored at 10:00 and buses will start to be withdrawn at 20:00.

The press and mass media unions will hold a 24-hour strike on Tuesday in support of GSEE's strike, between 6:00 on Tuesday until 6:00 on Wednesday.

The strike includes among others the national broadcaster ERT, the General Secretariat of Press and Information, the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) and press offices.