Schools will be closed and classes disrupted tomorrow, Wednesday, due to a 24-hour strike called by ADEDY (the Greek Confederation of Public Servants).
Schools: Closure confirmed
While teachers’ unions may not have issued formal announcements yet, teachers are covered by ADEDY’s strike action.
ADEDY will strike on the same day as GSEE (the General Confederation of Greek Workers), which represents private sector employees. This joint action sends a strong message against the rising cost of living affecting the country.
Public and private schools closed
A significant impact is expected, with many schools operating at reduced capacity due to teacher participation in the strike.
ADEDY’s declaration specifically addresses education, stating, “In education, policies continue to intensify the creation of a bureaucratic school system, shrinking public education through mergers and downgrading of school units.”
On the day of the strike, public sector workers will march in Athens and other cities. The Athens gathering is scheduled for 1:00 PM in Klauthmonos Square.
Public servants’ demands:
- Real wage increases immediately
- Reinstatement of the 13th and 14th month salaries
- Collective bargaining agreements
- Abolition of the 2% unemployment contribution
- Retroactive payment for the 2016-2017 two-year pay freeze
- Tax-free threshold of 12,000 euros
- Increase and expansion of the hazardous and unhealthy work allowance without any reductions.
- Support for the National Health System (ESY) with substantial funding. Health and safety measures in workplaces and schools.
- Reduction of the student-teacher ratio to 1:15 and an end to school and class mergers.
- Repeal of the Chatzidakis Law (Law 4808/21) and Law 5053/23 (Georgiadis) concerning labor, as well as the repeal of all laws privatizing social security – Reinstatement of Law 1264/82.
- Hiring of permanent staff to fill the thousands of existing vacancies in the public sector, particularly in health, education, social security, etc.
Workers also oppose the privatization of public organizations and agencies.
Private school teachers, through their union OIELE, have also announced their participation in the 24-hour strike. Their main demands are the restoration of collective bargaining in tutoring centers, foreign language centers, and SAEK (formerly IEK), wage increases, and the return of bonuses in private schools.
They state, “We demand substantial increases and the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th month salaries! Teachers must work with decent working conditions and pay; they must enter their classrooms with their heads held high, not impoverished and humiliated.”