Air Traffic Controllers to Join April 9 Strike, Grounding Flights

On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Greece will experience a nationwide 24-hour strike organized by ADEDY, the public sector union, with participation from several key sectors, including air traffic controllers.

The Greek Air Traffic Controllers Association (EEEKE) has confirmed its involvement in the strike, meaning air traffic services will be severely impacted throughout the day. During the strike, only essential flights will operate, such as those exceeding the Athens Flight Information Region, flights carrying heads of state, emergency medical transport, and humanitarian aid flights.

At the heart of the April 9 strike are ADEDY’s demands for the reinstatement of what are called “the 13th and 14th salaries” for public sector workers.

All private sector workers in Greece receive holiday bonuses as stipulated in the National General Labor Code of 2010 and the Individual Labor Law Code. The bonuses are calculated based on a worker’s salary and the amount of time they have worked for an employer, and equal a 13th and 14th salary over the course of a year. Public Sector workers were once guaranteed these bonuses as well, but they were eliminated for public sector workers under the austerity measures imposed during Greece’s economic crisis.

The reinstatement of these benefits has been an ongoing demand of public sector workers’ unions, though they have been met with resistance. Earlier this month the Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras firmly ruled out any discussion regarding the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th salaries.

In addition to calling for reinstatement of the extra salaries, ADEDY is calling for regluarized salary increases to address the rising cost of living. According to the union, public sector wages have been stagnant for over a decade, with only minimal increases that fail to keep up with inflation. The union argues that these small increases are insufficient given the rapid rise in living expenses.

Additionally, ADEDY is raising alarms about the growing housing crisis, which they say disproportionately affects public sector workers. In tourist-heavy regions such as Santorini they say, some workers are being forced to live in tents, cars, or even on the floors of schools due to skyrocketing rent prices. The union also criticizes the government for prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy.