A 24-hour general strike by Greek public and private sector employees on Wednesday is causing service disruptions throughout the nation, with ferries connecting the islands to the mainland stranded in port and public transportation in the capital suspended for several hours.
The strike, which was called by labor unions to protest the high cost of living and seek collective wage agreements that were reduced during Greece’s almost decade-long financial crisis that started in 2010, is also being participated in by teachers and medical personnel at state-run institutions.
In order to cover Wednesday’s general strike, journalists from Greek media outlets staged their own 24-hour strike in support on Tuesday, suspending all news broadcasts for the day.
Later Wednesday, protest marches were scheduled to take place in the heart of Athens.
The center-right government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been under fire from unions for its inability to address housing policies and inflation, which have reduced workers’ living conditions.
A fourth of Greece’s economy was destroyed in the financial crisis after decades of wasteful spending prevented it from accessing global bond markets. The country’s poverty and unemployment rates skyrocketed, and successive international bailouts were contingent on the implementation of highly unpopular changes, including as pension and pay cuts.
Despite its recent return to investment-grade status and solid growth, Greece continues to have the highest debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU.
The Associated Press, 2024. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or redistribute this content without authorization.
Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!