May 1 is not a holiday but a Labor and Strike day in Greece. Following the tradition of a wider-spread general strike, employees and workers of the private and public sector will take to the streets and join their voices for more rights and income increases.
Unions umbrellas ADEDY and GSEE for the public and private sector respectively have called for a 24-hour strike throughout Greece.
Workers organize public gatherings and protest rallies.
Public sector unions demand, among others, the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th salaries, that is Christmas, Easter and Vacations bonus, and the hiring of permanent staff.
On their part, private sector workers demand collective bargain agreements, as well as active policies against the high cost of living and the housing crisis, a fair taxation system, better Health, Education and Justice.
Retirees have announced their participation through a relevant announcement issued by the IKA Pensioners’ Federation.
Public Transport Strike
Ferries and ships will remain docked in Greek ports, as the Panhellenic Federation has announced.
The Panhellenic Federation of Railways and Fixed-Track Vehicles has announced a 24-hour strike, which means that trains including Proastiakos will not operate.
How the metro in Athens and Thessaloniki, the tram, buses and trolleybuses will operate has not be announced yet. It is more likely that they will launch work stoppages in order to facilitate citizens to join the gatherings and protest rallies.
Buses and trolley buses will operate from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., the union reportedly just announced.
The intercity bus services KTEL usually operate as normal on May 1.
Taxis will operate as usual.
Those who do not join the protests traditionally join taverns in the countryside or the fiestas organized by many municipalities.