Nationwide strikes and student camps in Greece over rising living costs and education conditions
Unions, students and pensioners hold protests and a public‑sector strike in Athens and across Greece demanding higher pay and more investment in public education.
Unions, student groups and pensioners in Greece are holding nationwide strikes and demonstrations today to protest rising living costs and to demand increased investment in public education.
Authorities in Athens have readied roughly 3,000 police officers to contain potential unrest similar to clashes seen in other European cities. Students and schoolchildren yesterday afternoon set up tents on Syntagma Square in front of the Hellenic Parliament as part of their protest. Their demands include lower rents, larger housing subsidies, more student accommodation and additional teaching staff.
The public-sector confederation ADEDY has called a work stoppage from 11:00 until the end of the working day, urging all public services across the country to join the protest.
Main demands
In its statement ADEDY said: "We call on them to join their voices with teachers, university staff, students and their parents, who oppose the government's anti-education policy and demand wage increases, substantial support for teachers' work, safe schools, meeting children's educational needs, public and free education."
Key union demands include higher wages and pensions, the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th pay, and measures to address the high cost of living. The confederation also demands the hiring of permanent staff, stable contracts for those currently employed on temporary agreements, and improved working conditions and protection of labour and trade-union rights.
Pensioners' organisations participating in the mobilisation plan to assemble at the "National Resistance" square and march to the Ministry of Health. Among their demands are increases to all pensions, restoration of the 13th and 14th pension payments, abolition of the solidarity contribution, settlement of outstanding claims, a payment of €400 to all pensioners regardless of age, additional staff in the public health system, free medicines and medical care, and the re-establishment of social services such as social tourism.
Photo: press material from the event
