General Strike in Greece Protests Rising Cost of Living

With the start of a one-day general strike in Greece protesting the rising cost of living on Wednesday, November 30, thousands marched in Athens, the capital, and other cities, leading to the shutdown of public services and parts of the transportation network. According to police, the number of demonstrators in Athens was about 15,000, and in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, about 4,000. The General Confederation of Greek Workers, the largest labor union in the country, stated: "The general strike is a reaction to the government's refusal to take necessary actions to ensure a minimum and dignified livelihood for workers." The union added in another part of its statement: "The government must understand that the prosperity and public welfare of society depend on the livelihood of workers." Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, who traveled to Greece to express support for the general strike, said: "Urgent measures must be taken to combat rising prices, the staggering cost of housing, and the continuation of low wage levels." Due to the participation of members of the Greek maritime transport union in the general strike, ferry services between the mainland and the Greek islands were also halted. Workers from various sectors of the transportation network, including buses, the metro, and railways, as well as employees in education, public health, and the judiciary, also joined the general strike. Public dissatisfaction and anger over rising food prices and housing costs, especially in Athens, have been increasing in recent years, while public service salaries and workers' wages in Greece are lower compared to many European countries. The Greek Statistical Authority recently announced that the average annual inflation rate in October this year was 2.4 percent. The union of journalists and reporters in Greece also went on a one-day general strike on Tuesday, November 29, calling for a new nationwide agreement regarding the working rights of those in the profession. The previous nationwide agreement on media workers' wages dates back to 2008, before Greece's severe financial crisis. Trade unions that have organized multiple strikes throughout this year have condemned the policies of the conservative Greek government under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Mr. Mitsotakis, leader of the New Democracy party, was re-elected to this position after winning last year's general elections. Recently, the Greek Prime Minister announced plans to increase the purchasing power of low-income groups, with key points including raising the minimum wage and pensions in January 2025.