Mass presence was given by workers, unemployed, pensioners, young people who participated in a rally and protest march in central Athens, Greece, as part of the 24-hour general strike called by labor unions, on Wednesday November 20.
Under the slogan “we want increases to live on – Collective Agreements to protect ourselves – work and life with rights”, the protesters gave a clear message to the government that there is no room for tolerance and endurance and immediate and substantial measures must be taken to ensure a decent living.
Due to the 24-hour general strike, in which federations and unions participated, ships docked at Greek ports, and railway and bus services were disrupted on Wednesday as transport workers joined a nationwide strike to protest squeezed living standards and demand higher pay.
The Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) announced that it would join a 24-hour strike on November 20 in solidarity with a broader strike organized by the General Confederation of Greek Workers, in Greek Γ.Σ.Ε.Ε, which called for immediate and substantial pay rises for workers struggling with what it said was an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.
The rally was followed by a march to the parliament, where a delegation of the General Confederation of Greek Workers handed over a resolution of protest to the president of the Hellenic parliament and the representatives of the parties.
Greeks say the rises are not enough and their salaries – which still lag the European average – do not last them a month as energy, food and housing costs rose faster.
According to Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation, the strike begins at 00:01 (20/11) and ends at 24:00 of the same day, in all categories of ships nationwide.
The central demands of the strike include addressing the housing crisis, restoring collective labor rights, and combating the reduction of workers’ purchasing power.
“Greek seafarers, due to the unique nature of their profession, are among the first to face the consequences of all the above issues, as they are the only ones who, at best, work 5 to 6 months a year to support themselves and their families throughout the entire year,” emphasizes the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation in its announcement.
Furthermore, the Federation reiterates its consistent and firm position on the safety of maritime transport and the protection of human life at sea, demanding the establishment of increased crew compositions and a new legislative framework that meets the current needs of ships and the maritime workforce, ensuring proper working conditions and, most importantly, the safety of ships, passengers, and crew.
