A nationwide 24-hour strike in Greece disrupted flights, ferries, and public transport on Wednesday as unions demanded an end to austerity measures, higher wages, and restored bargaining rights amid a rising cost of living and global economic concerns.
Tag: Unions
Serious clashes erupted outside the Agios Dimitrios Steam Power Plant in Kozani during Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit, as protesters attempted to breach a police cordon. The unrest, met with tear gas from riot police, involved PPC unions, local workers’ groups, and citizens opposing the prime minister’s presence at a company event unveiling a new investment plan.
Student rallies demanding justice for the victims of the 2023 Tempe railway disaster have occurred in central Athens and various other cities. In Athens, the demonstration began at Athens University, with participants marching to the Parliament. At midday, they observed a minute of silence followed by a sit-in protest in front of the legislative building.
Protesters are gathering across Greece today in fresh demonstrations demanding justice for the victims of the Tempi train disaster. These rallies follow the massive nationwide strike on February 28 and are being organised by labour unions, trade associations, and student groups. Major protests are set to take place in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and Larissa, among other cities. While public transport will operate as usual, demonstrators continue to call for accountability and improved railway safety under the slogan: “No Cover-Up – No Retreat – Justice for Tempi.”
Greek journalists and public health workers staged a 24-hour nationwide strike on 18 February 2025, protesting unpaid wages and job insecurity. Media professionals, led by POESY, halted work in solidarity with colleagues left unpaid for months, while healthcare unions ADEDY and PDEDN demanded fair wages, permanent contracts, and full staffing in public hospitals. A demonstration was held in Athens outside media offices, highlighting the growing labour unrest in Greece.
Greece has enacted a new law mandating a six-day workweek, sparking criticism from workers and unions who argue that the move increases workload without addressing low wages and a shrinking workforce.
## Greece Extends Work Week to 6 Days for Some Industries, Sparking Outrage
While many European nations explore the benefits of a four-day work week, Greece has taken a controversial step in the opposite direction. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently introduced a new law extending the work week to six days for certain industries, including 24-hour services, retail, agriculture, and some manufacturing sectors.
Mitsotakis, a center-right leader, argues that this measure is necessary to address Greece’s shortage of skilled workers and shrinking, aging population. He claims the extended work week is “worker-friendly” and will boost economic growth, aligning Greece with the rest of Europe.
However, this justification has been met with fierce opposition from Greek unions, who view the law as a blatant attack on workers’ rights and a regression to outdated labor practices. Aris Kazakos, a labor law expert, warns that the new law will effectively dismantle the five-day work week, giving employers excessive power to dictate working conditions beyond minimum legal requirements.
Critics point out the inherent contradiction in the government’s stance. Akis Sotiropoulos, a union leader, criticizes the move as nonsensical, particularly when numerous “civilized countries” are embracing shorter work weeks. He emphasizes that employee productivity thrives on a healthy work-life balance and reduced working hours, not an extended work week.
The new law mandates an extra eight hours of work, compensated at a 40% premium, rising to 115% on holidays. However, critics argue that this financial incentive does not outweigh the potential negative impact on workers’ well-being and the disregard for the growing trend towards shorter work weeks.
Although Greece’s economy is recovering after a prolonged crisis, unemployment still lingers above 10%, and average monthly wages remain significantly lower than 15 years ago. This context further fuels the debate, with critics questioning if an extended work week is the right solution for Greece’s economic challenges or if it will exacerbate existing issues of worker exploitation and income inequality.
Molotov cocktails were thrown in the centre of Athens as thousands of people are striking…