A 24-hour nationwide strike is set to bring Greece to a standstill on Tuesday, October 14, as public and private sector workers protest against a controversial labor bill that would allow 13-hour workdays.
This is the second nationwide strike in two weeks, as unions are escalating their fight against the bill, which they argue would abolish the eight-hour workday, dismantle work-life balance, and institutionalize “hyper-exploitation.”
The strike, organized by the civil servants’ union ADEDY and the Athens Labor Center (EKA), coincides with the parliamentary debate on the proposed legislation.
Public transport disruptions
The strike will heavily impact Athens’ public transportation network, with metro, tram, and suburban rail services operating only between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to facilitate access to protest sites.
Buses and trolley buses will run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., though service will begin gradually after 10:00 a.m. and start winding down around 8:00 p.m.
Train and suburban railway (Proastiakos) services will also be affected, as the Panhellenic Railway Federation joins the strike. The national operator, Hellenic Train, is expected to announce which routes will be canceled, with only a few potentially running under emergency staffing.
Main rally at Syntagma Square
ADEDY and the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) are calling on the public to gather for a mass rally at 11:00 a.m. in Syntagma Square, outside the Greek Parliament.
The unions say the protest continues the momentum of their October 1 strike and targets “the so-called flexible schedule,” which they describe as a “direct attack on the eight-hour workday and on family and social life.”
In their joint statement, ADEDY accuses the government of prioritizing “overwork and labor silence” instead of supporting income and public services.
