Greece’s national general strike has disrupted public services across the country, with ferries tied to ports, flights grounded and public transport operated part-time.
Thousands of protesters marched through the centre of Athens in two separate demonstrations.
The 24-hour strike was summoned by two major umbrella unions covering the public and private sectors.
They are seeking increased pay and a full restitution of collective bargaining rights that were discarded as part of international bailout during the Greek financial crisis.
“We demand an increase on all salaries. This is not enough to last until the 20th of the month,” said union member Alekos Perrakis.
“We demand immediate health and education measures on all issues that are deteriorating the lives of workers as the profits of large-scale monopolies continue to grow.”
Round trips to Greece and commercial flights between domestic destinations were cancelled from midnight on Wednesday to midnight on Thursday, but Greek capital buses, trolleys, trains, trams and subway systems only operated for one day.
The country is now fighting the rising cost of living amid concerns that global financial disruption caused by US tariffs could lead to even more difficulties.
“The cost of living is eating workers’ income without paying attention from the government,” a statement from the General Coalition of Unions in Greece, a private sector umbrella coalition.
“None of the increases announced at this time meet our needs, so we are fighting for wage increases. They are being wiped out by high cost of living and we are forced to cut back to survive anywhere else.”
The public sector, which is under the umbrella of the public sector (Adedy), has sought wage increases and public servant holiday bonuses returned.
