Workers of the Athens Metro, ISAP S-Bahn and Tram will start a 24-hour strike on Tuesday 28 March 2023.
The strike will affect all rail-based public transport in Athens, including metro lines 2 and 3 (Athens-Airport) as well as 1 (ISAP train Piraeus-Kifissia).
Public transport union SELMA said on Friday (March 24) that the strike was being held to protest a shortage of personnel, equipment and spare parts.
The union stressed that the strike is “warning”, implying that more may follow.
SELMA noted that although it serves 1.5 million passengers daily, it lacks fixed assets and listed among other things:
- Shortage of 847 employees: drivers, technicians, stationmasters and specialized railway personnel.
- Lack of new trains and spare parts of trains and materials of the railway infrastructure of the network.
- Failure to comply with previously agreed obligations.
They noted that “we are presenting them with their duties and it would be particularly interesting to have GOVERNMENT officials tell us whether the demands of the workers are completely legal and just, or they will again feel sorry for themselves and consider us unfair and illegal immigrants who claim to protect passengers through our strike.”
The union added that the fatal train collision in Tempi last month exposed the effects of privatization and anti-worker politics across Europe.
The union also expressed solidarity with the ongoing protests against pension reform in France.
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