Nationwide strike shuts down services across Greece

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS (AA) - A 24-hour nationwide general strike brought Greece to a standstill Wednesday as thousands protested over rising prices and low salaries.

Greece’s two largest private and public unions, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Civil Servants Confederation (ADEDY), marched from Klathmonos Square to the parliament building, along with Greek Communist Party-affiliated union PAME, with the main slogan “Salaries falling short, we can’t pay our bills.”

The daylong strike paralyzed the country with major disruptions in public transportation, media, and public services, with ferries docked at ports.

According to police estimates, more than 10,000 people marched in central Athens and over 9,000 in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city.

“Over the last 14 years, workers have been bearing the burden of a deep crisis that affected the income and the lives of everyone,” said a statement by the General Confederation of Greek Workers.

Greece managed to avoid bankruptcy in 2010, when it signed a bailout deal with the IMF for a decade, borrowing €260 billion ($306 billion).

For years the country suffered from recession, high prices, and low wages. While the country eventually managed to stand on its feet, in 2019 the COVID-19 pandemic hit its strongest sector, tourism, bringing global travel to a standstill.

Now Greeks are faced with another crisis in energy, with soaring prices in heating oil and gas and supermarket goods.

“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,” said the general confederation of workers.