ATHENS, Greece: Striking public school teachers marched through central Athens on Wednesday, escalating tensions between labour organisations and the centre-right government over workers’ rights.
In addition to the teachers’ protests, island ferry crews have announced an extension of their strike for another two days, leaving ships docked since Tuesday. They are demanding a 12% pay increase.
The 24-hour teachers’ strike, organized by Greece’s civil servants’ union ADEDY, follows a legal attempt by the government to block the action in court. Labour unions are advocating for restoring rights significantly diminished during international bailouts from 2010 to 2018. These austerity measures, implemented as conditions for receiving rescue loans, included drastic cuts to public spending, tax increases, and labour reforms that weakened collective bargaining.
Teachers’ unions are calling for salary increases and more permanent positions for temporary staff, among other demands.
The government argues that the strike did not meet legal requirements under recent labour reforms, while ADEDY accuses the administration of infringing on workers’ constitutional right to strike.
The march concluded peacefully on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Greece’s Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation warned that it may consider further extending its strike, which could disrupt travel plans for thousands of Greeks anticipating a long weekend ahead of a national holiday on Monday.