Healthcare workers and nurses across public hospitals in Athens launched a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, coupled with a work stoppage from 8:00 to 15:00, as announced by the Panhellenic Federation of Employees in Public Hospitals (POEDIN).
The industrial action, aimed at highlighting critical staff shortages and deteriorating conditions in the public health system, will disrupt services in the capital and surrounding regions.
POEDIN stated that the strike reflects the dire state of Greece’s healthcare infrastructure, with emergency rooms in on-call hospitals descending into “chaos” due to insufficient personnel. “The public health system is at the limits of its capacity,” the Federation warned, urging immediate government intervention. Protesters will gather at Mavili Square at 8:30 a.m. for a rally before marching to the Ministries of Finance and Health to press their demands.
Meanwhile, the Civil Servants Federation (ADEDY) has called for a separate 24-hour nationwide strike on Friday, March 21, in solidarity with the Association of Social Workers of Greece. The strike, affecting social workers across all public sector services, coincides with World Social Work Day—a global occasion to celebrate and promote the vital role of social workers. ADEDY emphasised that the action is both a commemoration and a call to action for better support and recognition of the profession. A rally is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. outside the Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family Affairs in Athens.
These consecutive strikes underscore growing unrest among Greece’s public sector workers, who are demanding urgent reforms to address staffing crises and improve working conditions. As the protests unfold, the government faces mounting pressure to respond to the escalating challenges in healthcare and social services.