Over 1,000 Greek Dockers & Mariners Walk Off The Job Protesting Against Inflation

Port Containers — Image for representation purposes only

Workers across Greece came together for a 24-hour general strike to protest the rising cost of living on November 20, 2024. Public transport stopped, ferries stayed in port, and thousands of people marched in Athens and other cities, demanding higher wages and better living conditions.

At the port of Piraeus, dockers stopped work at Cosco-run container terminals, disrupting cargo operations. Mariners joined the strike, shutting down coastal shipping from midnight. Ferry workers gathered at ramp landings, demanding higher wages, better safety measures, and action on affordable housing.

The Panhellenic Maritime Federation said mariners were especially affected by inflation because they only work for part of the year but have to support their families all year round. They called for immediate help to ease the burden.

The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) said inflation has caused workers’ purchasing power to drop by 8% since 2019. Unions have blamed the government for not doing enough to help workers deal with the high cost of basic goods, energy, and rent.

The leader of GSEE, Yannis Panagopoulos, said workers are still dealing with low incomes from Greece’s financial crisis years, even though prices keep going up. Pensioner Giorgos Skiadiotis joined the protest, saying, “Inflation is affecting everything, and our buying power has been cut in half.”

About 12,000 people marched through central Athens, with another 5,000 protesting in Thessaloniki. Protesters shouted slogans saying, “Workers’ rights are the law,” and held banners against rising prices.

The strike also impacted public hospitals, schools, and transport, with many workers joining the walkout.

In Athens, dock workers gathered early in the morning for a rally at the Piraeus Municipal Theater. Public and private sector workers joined the movement, including teachers, doctors, and bus drivers. Journalists also supported the strike, stopping news broadcasts on November 19 to focus on covering the protests.

Greece has been recovering from a financial crisis that wiped out a quarter of its economy between 2009 and 2018. Although the economy has improved, workers say wages are still too low, and the cost of living is too high.

The government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has raised the minimum wage four times since 2019, now at €830. They plan to increase it to €950 by 2027. The new 2025 budget includes more spending for wage and pension increases, but unions say it’s not enough to keep up with rising costs.

Esther Lynch, head of the European Trade Union Confederation, supported the strike, saying all workers in Greece deserve better pay and fair treatment. She added, “Greek workers need real help to deal with inflation.”

References: Reuters, AP News

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