Public and private workers will hold a 24-hour strike to fully restore their rights to collective bargaining.
National general strikes disrupt public services across Greece, ferries are tied up at ports, flights are grounded, and public transport is run only part-time as unions seek higher wages to deal with rising costs of living.
Wednesday’s 24-hour strike was summoned by two major umbrella unions covering the public and private sectors, calling for the full return of collective bargaining rights that were abolished as part of international bailouts during the Greek financial crisis.
Greece was born from the debt crisis of 2009-18. This saw relief measures worth around 290 billion euros ($31.9 billion) and reduced wages and pensions from economic growth, which is seen at 2.3% this year, outperforming other eurozone economies.
Taking advantage of the country’s progress, the conservative government has increased its monthly minimum wage by a cumulative 35% to 880 euros ($970). But many households struggle to achieve their goals amid rising costs of food, electricity and housing, unions say.
National equipment for further global financial disruption caused by US tariffs.
“Individuals are helpless.”
“The wage demand for our coalition is to revive collective wage negotiations. Before 2012, half of Greek workers had collective wage agreements. However, there were also national wage contracts signed by employers and unions.
“Now, the government places individual contracts at the heart of its policy, but individuals cannot negotiate. [with] Their employer,” he said.
“Prices are so high that we are buying 10% less products compared to 2019,” GSEE, representing more than 2 million private workers, said in a statement. “We are shocked by the obvious: pay rises and collective labor contracts are now under contract!”
The impressive protesters have taken us to the streets of Central Athens, where buses, trolleys, trains, trams and subway systems are only operating for part of the day. Similar demonstrations were held in other towns and cities.
Meanwhile, commercial flights between domestic and domestic destinations have also been cancelled from midnight on Wednesday to midnight on Thursday.
“That’s a gap that keeps growing.”
Data from EU Statistics Bureau Eurostat showed Greece’s lowest salary for purchasing power in January was one of the lowest in the European Union, the lowest after Portugal and Lithuania.
At 1,342 euros ($1477.28) per month, the average salary is still 10% lower than in 2010, when the financial crisis occurred, data from the Greek Ministry of Labor shows.
But while the country surpasses its main surplus target of 2%, leaving room for wage increases, the government says it must be financially wise to limit the interest charged on debt.
The government has pledged to raise the minimum wage to an additional 950 euros ($1,047) to cover the average monthly salary close to the EU average ($1,654).
“It’s a gap that continues to grow due to price hikes and inflation that affect energy and drugs,” seafarers’ union Angelos Galanopoulos told Reuters.
Source link
