Greek ports are at a standstill as ships remain docked and train services come to a halt today. This disruption comes as transport workers join a 24-hour strike, demanding higher wages to cope with the escalating cost of living.
The strike, organized by Greece’s largest private sector union GSEE, has seen participation from various sectors, including bus and taxi drivers, who walked off their jobs for several hours. The focal point of the protest is the disparity between wages in Greece and those of their European counterparts.
As the country emerges from the 2010-2018 debt crisis, during which austerity measures were implemented, Greece’s economy has shown significant growth, nearly double the rate of the euro zone. Last year, Greece regained investment grade status after 13 years in the “junk” category. Despite these strides, workers continue to struggle with stagnant wages.
The recent increase in the monthly minimum gross wage, up by 6.4% to 830 euros, marks the fourth such rise in five years. However, workers argue that these increments fail to keep pace with the soaring costs of essentials like food and housing.
Nikos Kioutsoukis, a senior GSEE official, emphasized the pressing issue, stating, “The high prices are eating up any minimum wage increase. We cannot pay for another crisis, we cannot continue like this, we want real wage increases.”
The disparity in wages is evident in the statistics: the Greek average monthly salary of 1,175 euros remains 20% lower than it was 15 years ago, while unemployment rates persist above 10%, second only to Spain within the European Union.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s conservative government, re-elected last June, has pledged to address these concerns. Plans include raising the monthly minimum wage to 950 euros by 2027 and boosting the average wage by over 25% to 1,500 euros within the same period.
The strike underscores the urgency of addressing the economic disparities faced by Greek workers, highlighting the need for substantive and sustainable solutions to ensure fair compensation and alleviate financial burdens.
Sources:Reuters
