A nationwide general strike in Greece on Wednesday brought public services to a halt, with ferries stranded at port, flights grounded, and public transportation operating on a limited schedule. The strike, which lasted for 24 hours, was organized by the two major umbrella unions representing both public and private sectors. They are demanding an end to austerity measures imposed on Greece by international creditors during the financial crisis a decade ago.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Athens, where two separate peaceful demonstrations were held. The unions are calling for wage increases and the restoration of collective bargaining rights, which were stripped away as part of the bailout conditions.
As a result of the strike, commercial flights to and from Greece, as well as domestic flights, were canceled from midnight Wednesday to midnight Thursday. In Athens, buses, trolleys, trains, trams, and the subway operated only for part of the day.
The strike comes at a time when Greece is grappling with rising living costs, compounded by concerns that global financial instability triggered by U.S. tariffs could lead to even greater financial hardship. The General Confederation of Workers of Greece, the private sector’s main umbrella union, stated that high living costs are eroding workers’ incomes, with many citizens spending over 40% of their income on housing and heating.
In addition to calling for wage increases, the public sector union, ADEDY, is also demanding the reinstatement of holiday bonuses for civil servants, which were equivalent to two months’ salary before being cut as part of the austerity measures tied to the bailout.