Protesters Flood the Streets of Athens During General Strike in Greece

On Nov. 20, public and private sector workers in Greece went on a 24-hour general strike, with marches planned in central Athens.

Services in the Mediterranean nation were disrupted, with public transport in the capital halted for several hours and ferry services connecting the islands to the mainland suspended.

Doctors, nurses, teachers, and construction workers were among the participants protesting the high cost of living.

Journalists in Greece held a 24-hour sympathy strike on Nov. 19 by taking news broadcasts off-air to cover the general strike on Nov. 20.

Greek labor unions initiated the industrial action to demand the restoration of collective wage agreements that were reduced during the financial crisis that began in 2009 and lasted nearly a decade.

During the crisis, pay and pensions were slashed for millions of Greeks in exchange for international bailouts totaling 280 billion euros ($297 billion), almost pushing the country out of the eurozone after its economy shrank by 25 percent.

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Since 2018, with the Greek economy showing positive signs, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has raised the minimum monthly gross wage four times, reaching 830 euros a month since assuming office in 2019, with a promise to increase it to 950 euros by 2027.

However, according to the unions, the wage hikes are insufficient, as salaries, still below the European average, are not keeping up with rising energy, food, and housing expenses.

The largest private sector union in Greece, GSEE, emphasized the soaring prices and rents, advocating for substantial and immediate pay raises to tackle what they described as an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.

GSEE, representing around 2.5 million Greek workers, also urged governmental action against the “oligopolies” engaging in “concerted practices” contributing to the escalating costs of essential goods.

Unions also criticized the government for neglecting to address inflation and housing prices, further burdening Greek citizens financially.

The financial crisis followed years of uncontrolled public spending that cut Greece off from global bond markets.

Bailouts from international lenders came with conditions that Athens implement reforms, including cuts to pensions and wages, which were deeply unpopular, particularly as poverty and unemployment rates soared during the darkest periods of the Hellenic financial crises.

Although the country is experiencing robust economic growth and has recently regained investment-grade status, it still holds the highest debt-to-GDP ratio in the European Union.

Mitsotakis acknowledged the need for improvement in wages and GDP, seeking EU assistance in addressing the disparities between Greece’s power prices and those of other EU nations, further straining living standards.

The general strike coincided with the submission of the government’s final 2025 budget draft to the 300-seat Parliament, set for debate and voting in December.

The 2025 budget draft anticipates a 2.3 percent economic growth next year and increased tax revenues from growing digital transactions, booming property sales, and substantial tourism income, as reported by the Greek Fiscal Council.

Central bank data show that in the nine months leading to September, Greece recorded a current account deficit of 7.66 billion euros ($8.05 billion), up from 6.62 billion euros ($6.96 billion) in the same period the previous year, with imports surpassing exports.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.