“No to the grueling 13-hour working day”: Strikes paralyze transport and ports

IN Greece a large-scale strikeorganized by the largest trade unions ADEDY And GSEE. The country virtually came to a standstill – public transport did not work, and ships remained moored in ports. Protesters opposed the new labor reform bill.

The country froze without movement

IN Greece a national strikeparalyzing transport and ports. Train traffic was completely stopped, and ships remained moored. The protest was organized by the largest trade unions in the public and private sectors – ADEDY And GSEE.

The protest was attended not only by transport workers, but also by doctors at public hospitals, journalists, and other categories of workers. At noon, participants marched to the parliament building in Athenswhere debates and voting on the controversial bill took place in those days.

The essence of the conflict

The reason for the strike was the government bill on labor law reform. The document provided for the possibility of extending working hours, changing hiring rules and introducing new conditions for the provision of annual leave. The government said the measures would make the labor market more flexible and modern.

According to a cabinet statement, the reform was to apply for no more than 37 days a year and included a 40 percent premium for overtime work. According to the authorities, the new provisions were in the interests of both employers and employees, who themselves sought greater employment flexibility.

Position of trade unions

Trade unions came out strongly against it. In a joint statement ADEDY And GSEE It noted that instead of raising incomes and strengthening public services, the government “enshrined in law grueling work and the ability to work for several employers at once.”

According to trade unions, the reform destroyed the foundations of labor legislation, effectively abolished the eight-hour working day and limited the rights of workers to collective bargaining. The document from the trade union centers emphasized that in a country where wages remain one of the lowest in the European Union, the government should have been concerned about increasing incomes, and not about legalizing “multi-shift fatigue.”

Social context

According to EurostatDespite gradually rising wages and falling unemployment following the 2009–2018 debt crisis, Greek purchasing power remained among the lowest in the world. EU. This increased social discontent and was seen as evidence of an uneven economic recovery.

The strike showed that, despite the stabilization of the economy, the issue of social justice in the country remains open. The conflict between the government and labor organizations once again demonstrated how sensitive Greek society remains to the issue of workers’ rights and the balance between work and profit.

By evening, traffic in the country began to gradually recover, but the protest was a reminder that Greece’s tradition of collective action remains one of the liveliest in Europe today.

Source link