A nationwide one-time strike destroyed public services throughout Greece, with ferries tied up at ports and rooted, public transportation only part-time, and part-time labor unions were eager to cope with higher wages in response to rising cost of living.
Two major umbrella unions covering the public and private sectors conducted a 24-hour strike on Wednesday seeking the full return of collective bargaining rights, which were cancelled as part of international bailouts during the Greek financial crisis.
Greece has emerged from the 2009-18 debt crisis, which cut wages and pensions in another bailout valued at about 290 billion euros ($31.9 billion), while growing at 2.3% this year, surpassing other euro zone economies.
Attacking the country’s progress, the Conservative government’s monthly minimum wage increased by 35% to 880 euros ($970). But many families are still working to achieve their lives due to rising food, power and housing costs, the union said.
The country’s braces are causing further global financial turmoil caused by U.S. tariffs.
Highlighted protesters took the streets of central Athens, where buses, trolleys, trains, trams and subway systems operated for only part of the day. Similar demonstrations have been organized in other towns and cities.
At the same time, commercial flights between the country and domestic destinations were also cancelled from midnight to midnight on Wednesday.
Data from the European Statistics Office shows that Greece’s minimum wage in purchasing power is the lowest in the EU, second only to Portugal and Lithuania.
According to the Greek Ministry of Labor, the average salary of 1,342 euros ($1,477.28) per month is still 10% lower than when the financial crisis broke out in 2010.
However, the country outperformed its main 2% surplus target, leaving some wage room, but the government said it had to be cautious to limit interest levy on its debt, which remains the highest debt in the euro zone.
The government has pledged to further raise the minimum wage to 950 euros ($1,047) as it averages 1,500 euros ($1,654), close to the EU average.
“It’s a gap, as prices rise and inflation affect energy and drugs,” Angelos Galanopoulos of the Seafarers union told Reuters News Agency.
