General Strike in Greece on Wednesday Over Price Hikes

Greece will come to a halt on Wednesday, November 9th, as a 24-hour strike has been declared by Greece’s workers’ unions.

There will be significant work stoppages in the means of public transportation, as employees will also be participating in the strike announced by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), the Civil Servants’ Confederation (ADEDY), and the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME).

The workers have called a nationwide strike due to the ever-increasing prices. They demand that the Greek government implement support measures to deal with the rapid rise in the cost of living.

“Our country’s workers, both in the public and in the private sectors, are battling against the high prices that are strangling households and citizens,” said ADEDY in a public statement. It was emphasized that the greater cost of power, fuel, and basic goods was cutting into workers’ salaries.

The strike will affect all modes of transport, including both mass transport means and taxis. Meanwhile, ships will remain tied up in the ports.

Public transport immobilized in Athens

Buses and trolleybuses, according to the Athens Mass Transit System (OASA), will remain immobilized from early in the morning until 9:00 a.m. and from 9:00 p.m. until late at night.

The itineraries of specially adapted vehicles for the service of Persons with Disabilities will operate as usual. The KTEL-Airport N1 night service will also operate as usual.

In addition, the metro (lines 2,3) trains will operate between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., as mentioned in an announcement by SELMA (Athens Metro Operation Employees Union). The tram will operate between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

The taxi drivers’ union of Attica is also participating in the 24-hour strike, so there will be no taxis operating on the streets of Athens.

Ships to remain in ports

Ships will remain tied up in Greek ports as the management of the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) decided to participate in the 24-hour strike. The strike concerns all categories of ships and is nationwide.

The two COSCO wharves will also remain closed, as the Union of Cargo Workers of Piraeus (ENEDEP) participates in the strike.

Trains not operating as usual

As far as trains are concerned, the Panhellenic Railway Federation will also participate in the strike. The Panhellenic Union of Traction Personnel proposed work stoppages from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Hellenic Train (formerly TRAINOSE) will issue instructions for the routes.

Media organizations and lawyers have also announced that they will be joining the nationwide action, as will other sectors. Protests will be held in downtown Athens and other cities.

The protest gathering is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at Klafthmonos Square on Stadiou Avenue.

Main Greek airlines to cancel flights

Greece’s main airlines announced domestic and international flight cancelations and schedule changes for Wednesday due to air traffic controllers and civil aviation workers participating in the nationwide strike.

Aegean Airlines and its subsidiary, Olympic Air, announced fifty domestic flight cancelations and amended the schedules for another forty-two flights, most of them international.

Air traffic controllers plan to take part in Wednesday’s strike by engaging in a six-hour work stoppage from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time. Members of the civil aviation unions are expected to participate in the full 24-hour strike.