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Greek workers are currently on strike today, Wednesday, causing disruptions at ports, and on buses and trains. The nationwide strike, which includes transport workers, doctors, teachers, and construction workers, is a protest against rising living costs and demands for higher wages.
During Greece’s debt crisis from 2009 to 2018, many workers saw their wages and pensions cut as the country received bailout funds. While the economy has been recovering since 2018, workers argue that recent wage increases are not enough to keep up with the rising costs of living, including energy, food, and housing.
The government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has raised the minimum wage several times, reaching 830 euros a month, with plans to raise it to 950 euros by 2027. However, unions like GSEE, which represents 2.5 million workers, argue that the increases are insufficient, as salaries still fall behind the European average. They are also calling for action against companies they blame for driving up the cost of essential goods.
As the government prepares to submit its final 2025 budget, which projects economic growth and higher tax revenues, today’s strike highlights ongoing concerns over the country’s cost-of-living crisis.
[With information from Kathimerini.gr and Reuters]
