Second general strike this month as unions protest new labor law

Protesters take portion successful a nationwide 24-hour strike successful Athens, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, arsenic labour unions request higher wages and the withdrawal of a measure changing work hours. [Petros Giannakouris/AP Photo]

Thousands of demonstrators person marched done the streets of Athens arsenic labour unions called the 2nd wide strike this period to protestation a caller labour law.

The 24-hour strike disrupted ferry schedules to and from the islands while nationalist transport successful the superior was moving connected a reduced schedule, snarling traffic. No trains were moving for the duration of the strike.

The country’s main nationalist and backstage assemblage unions GSEE and ADEDY called the strike to protestation a caller labour instrumentality that will let greater flexibility successful working conditions.

The draught instrumentality allows backstage assemblage employers to question up to 13 hours of work a time from their staff compared with the existent 8 hours. It besides gives them much flexibility connected short-term hirings and amends rules connected the organisation of yearly leave.

The authorities says the measure creates a much effectual and flexible labour market, allowing employees to work 4 days a week. It besides protects workers from being fired if they garbage to work overtime and extends their benefits, according to the labour minister.

Labor unions reason the caller legislation, which is owed to beryllium voted connected successful parliament Wednesday, leaves workers vulnerable to abuses by employers.

Flexible working hours “in signifier means the abolition of the eight-hour [working day], the dissolution of immoderate meaning of household and κοινωνικά beingness and the legalization of over-exploitation,” ADEDY said successful a statement.

Unions are calling for the caller authorities to beryllium withdrawn, and for working hours to beryllium reduced from the existent 40-hour working week to a 35-hour week. They are besides demanding wage increases and the reinstatement of corporate bargaining agreements.

Greeks’ purchasing powerfulness is among the lowest successful the European Union, Eurostat information shows. The state besides has the highest stock successful the EU of employees working much than 45 hours a week, according to the bloc’s statistics agency.

Opposition parties demanded that the measure beryllium withdrawn.

“The 13-hour displacement cannot go a reality. It’s paid slavery,” Effie Achstsioglou, a lawmaker with the small New Left party, told parliament. [AP, Reuters]