Public transport has largely ground to a halt in the Greek capital and state-run services remained closed as workers walked off the job in a 24-hour general strike to protest against rising prices.
The strike left ferries to and from Greek islands tied up in port, and left Athens without a subway, tram, trolley or suburban railway, while buses were to run for 12 hours from 9am.
State-run hospitals were treating emergency cases only as health care workers joined the strike, called by the country’s two main umbrella unions for public and private sector workers, demanding salary increases and measures to tackle rising prices.
Several demonstrations are planned in central Athens and other main cities.
“For the last 14 years, workers have been bearing the burden of a deep crisis that affected the income and the lives of everyone,” said the General Confederation of Greek Workers union (GSEE), referring to the Greek financial crisis that started in late 2009 and left the country dependent on international bailouts for a decade.
“The years have passed and the crisis is deepening, the burdens remain, rights are shrinking. We are striking and demanding the government take measures here and now,” GSEE said.
Greece has seen increasing prices, particularly in energy and certain supermarket goods such as flour, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
