Greece will come to a standstill on Wednesday, April 9, due to a nationwide 24-hour strike declared by the country’s two main labor unions, GSEE (private sector) and ADEDY (public sector). The strike sees widespread participation from federations, unions, and associations across the public and private sectors, demanding significant reforms.

What Are the Workers Demanding?

Union demands include:

  • Wage increases
  • Reinstatement of the 13th and 14th salaries in the public sector
  • Collective labor agreements across all sectors
  • Affordable housing
  • Measures to combat rising living costs
  • Setting the minimum wage through free collective bargaining, not government decree
  • Labor protections, safety regulations, and measures against workplace harassment
  • Restoration of favorable collective contract rules removed during austerity
  • Tax justice and relief for workers and pensioners
  • Increased staffing and infrastructure investments in transport and public services

Major Demonstrations Across Greece

  • GSEE has scheduled its central rally at 11:00 a.m. in Klafthmonos Square, Athens.
  • ADEDY will hold its protest at 10:30 a.m. outside the Ministry of Finance in Syntagma Square.
  • The PAME union is organizing a demonstration at the Propylaea at 10:30 a.m., and a simultaneous protest in Thessaloniki at Venizelos Statue.
  • Regional labor centers and unions will hold gatherings across other cities.

Air Travel Disrupted

Greek air traffic controllers will strike from 00:01 to 24:00 on April 9. Only the following flights will operate:

  • Overflights within Athens FIR
  • Flights carrying heads of state or prime ministers
  • Military flights or exercises
  • Emergency and medevac flights
  • Humanitarian aid
  • Search and rescue missions

Buses and Trolleybuses

Public buses and trolleybuses will operate only from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., due to work stoppages before and after. Unions are demanding:

  • Fleet renewal
  • New staff hires
  • Pay increases
  • Recognition of prior work experience
  • Safe and reliable public transport for all

KTEL-operated suburban lines are expected to run normally all day.

Metro, Tram, and Electric Railway (ISAP)

Workers in fixed-track transport (STASY) have announced that the Metro, Tram, and ISAP will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to facilitate access to and from protests.

They are also calling for:

  • Wage increases and collective bargaining restoration
  • Permanent hiring, especially in understaffed technical positions
  • Immediate reactivation and modernization of the railway network, particularly in flood-damaged Thessaly
  • Restoration of tourist rail routes
  • Full implementation of railway safety systems
  • Establishment and staffing of the new “Railways of Greece” agency
  • Accountability for the 2023 Tempi train disaster

No Trains or Suburban Railway

Train services, including the suburban railway (Proastiakos), will be completely suspended.

Ferries and Shipping

All ferry services will be suspended for 24 hours, impacting all vessel categories. The Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) is striking for:

  • Inflation and housing crisis relief
  • Collective bargaining rights
  • Stricter enforcement of labor hour laws
  • Increases in unemployment benefits for seafarers
  • Addressing under-crewed ships and safety violations
  • Restoration of full crews on Adriatic routes

Taxi Drivers

The taxi drivers’ union has encouraged participation in the strike rally at 11:00 a.m. in Klafthmonos Square, but leaves strike participation optional for individual drivers.

Food & Tourism Sector

The Panhellenic Federation of Food and Tourism Workers (POEET) is joining the strike, calling for mass turnout at 11:00 a.m. in Klafthmonos Square or at local protests nationwide.

Local Government Employees

The POE-OTA union, representing local government workers, is calling for full participation. They accuse the government of:

  • Undermining justice and deepening inequality
  • Failing to address the Tempi disaster aftermath
  • Privatizing vital public services

Their rally is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. in Syntagma Square, outside the Ministry of Finance.

Athens Labor Center

The Athens Labor Center also supports the strike and demands:

  • Real wage increases
  • Universal application of sectoral labor agreements
  • Stronger union rights
  • Housing protections and public safety policies