Living, Working, Musing & Misadventures in Greece

A practical guide to moving, living, working & traveling in Greece, plus tips and narratives from an American in Athens

Strikes in Greece

Milos Bicanski for Getty Images

Created with travelers and Easy Travel Report readers in mind, this regularly updated page aims to provide information about upcoming strikes in Greece.

The goal of strikes is to cause maximum inconvenience and put pressure on government officials or corporate executives, so strikes in Greece as in most countries are rarely announced more than a week in advance and can change status hourly.

*Article last updated September 2, 2010 at 00:30

κλειστό means ‘closed’ – tanea.gr

The list is arranged chronologically and compiled from major news agencies and union/transportation websites, translated from Greek to English when necessary. All strikes are posted when announced, and all sources are cited, linked and transparent.

You can also be notified of future strikes in Greece by following me at: www.twitter.com/livingingreece.

September

September 2: ELGA to stage protest rally outside Parliament at 13:00, protesting draft law they feel infringes on autonomy of farmers and other agriculture workers. Traffic in downtown Athens may be affected. — Eleftherotypia (in Greek)

September 6: ANT1 TV employees announce consecutive 24-hour strikes from 5:00, protesting redundancies. — Eleftherotypia (in Greek)

September 9–10: Kiosk (periptera) owners announce nationwide strike, with a hunger strike in front of the finance ministry on September 8, protesting tax measures that have cut into profits and caused many to permanently close shop. — Eleftherotypia (in Greek)

Before September 11: TrainOSE employees decided at a August 27 meeting to stage a 5-hour strike, protesting the layoff and transfer of up to 1,000 employees due to overstaffing. Details TBA. — Kathimerini (in English)

September 11: GSEE rally in Thessaloniki at 18:30, starting from the Venizelos statue. — Eleftherotypia (in Greek)

Threatened strike action

After August 15: The Pan-Hellenic Nautical Federation (PNO) said it would not stage more strikes to disrupt ferry or port services, until after August 15 — Kathimerini (in English)

After August 20: Athens metro workers, attempting to deviate from the original plan and stage a strike on August 11 that was ruled illegal, return to what they said previously about meeting on August 20 to decide future strike action but nothing was announced. — Kathimerini (in English)

Pending: The president of GENOP — a union representing PPC/DEH power company workers — threatened an indefinite strike during which “lights would go out all over the country,” if Greece complies with an EC request to sell off 40 percent capacity. — Reuters

*Note that strikes rarely ‘paralyze’ or ‘cripple’ Greece, as described in international media. Most residents continue lives unimpeded and help travelers find solutions and alternatives.

Photo from imerisia.gr

Information about strikers and unions

What follows is a brief description of major unions, what services are affected by strikes, and when and where announcements can typically be expected.

ADEDY: The public sector union Ανώτατη Διοίκηση Ενώσεων Δημοσίων Υπαλλήλων (ΑΔΕΔΥ), or Civil Servants’ Confederation, represents approximately 800,000 civil servants in Greece but not all workers are members, and strikes are not decided by referendum. Therefore, participation can vary by individual and location.

A strike will typically affect everything run or owned by the Greek government, including: Archaeological sites and museums, some banks, hospitals (public), post offices, public services affecting residents (courthouses, local, municipal, prefecture, tax offices). All announcements are made in Greek via their website: www.adedy.gr

Aegean Airlines: Because Aegean Airlines has its hub in Athens, it has little choice but to cancel or alter flight schedules if air traffic controllers (EEEKE) and/or the local aviation union (OSYPA) decide to strike. Press releases are typically published in Greek and English less than 48 hours before a strike via their website: www.aegeanair.com

Airports: All airports in Greece are closed when air traffic controllers/ATCs (EEEKE) are on strike. However, only participating domestic, local airports are affected when the Federation of Civil Aviation (OSYPA) announces a strike. See below.

Air traffic controllers/ATC (EEEKE): Ένωσης Ελεγκτών Εναέριας Κυκλοφορίας Ελλάδας (EEEKE), or Greek Air Traffic Controllers Association (GATCA), represents 653 air traffic controllers in Greece who earn an average salary of €3,000/month paid from Eurocontrol funds. When the union calls a strike, airports nationwide are forced to close, and all international flights to/from Greece and all domestic flights within the country must be canceled.

During work-to-rule protests or “white strikes,” there is no overtime and strict adherence to Greek airspace rules, which state that a limited number of international and domestic flights can depart and land. If a plane does not depart within a time window that can be as little as 5 minutes, it loses its place in the queue and could wait several hours. This has a domino effect, in that late departures could mean destination airports are unable to accommodate late arrivals, and passengers miss connecting flights and must be re-booked.

Announcements are primarily made via the Greek media in Greek, and English-language media when it’s newsworthy, which can be less than 24 hours notice. The EEEKE website is an unreliable source, since only half are posted at: www.eeeke.gr

Athens transportation (OASA): Οργανισμός Αστικών Συγκοινωνιών Αθηνών (ΟΑΣΑ), or the Athens Urban Transport Authority, concerns city and airport buses (ETHEL), trolleys (ILPAP), tram (TRAM SA), metro (AMEL) and the green line of metro or electrikos (ISAP). They are often urged to strike 24 hours in conjunction with unions, though some modes may operate briefly to transport protesters to/from a demonstration or rally.

Announcements in Greek are posted first by Greek media, then on the OASA website: www.oasa.gr. English-language media wait until less than 24 hours or the day of the strike.

Communists Workers Group (PAME): Members of the Πανεργατικό Αγωνιστικό Μέτωπο (ΠΑΜΕ), or Communists Workers Group, stage a variety of strikes that range from street protests, occupations and port blockades. All strikes are posted in Greek on their website: www.pamehellas.gr

Federation of Civil Aviation (OSYPA): When Ομοσπονδία Συλλόγων Υπηρεσίας Πολιτικής Αεροπορίας (ΟΣΥΠΑ) decides to strike, only domestic airports and flights within Greece may be affected depending on participation by the individual and location. International flights to/from Athens and Thessaloniki go ahead if air traffic controllers (EEEKE) are not on strike. Announcements are made in Greek via the Greek media and rarely on the OSYPA website: www.osypa.gr

Ferries and ships: There are 14 separate unions representing nautical operations, and it only takes one dissenter to cause disruptions in ferry or port services. When a court rules a strike illegal or if ferry companies and port workers state their intention to provide services, union members are still capable of blocking access to the dock or preventing passengers from embarking/disembarking. The majority of announcements come via the Greek media in Greek.

Recent disruptions were caused by the Πανελλήνιας Ναυτικής Ομοσπονδίας (ΠΝΟ), or Pan-Hellenic Maritime Federation (PNO), which occasionally publishes press releases at: www.pno.gr *No further strikes will be staged until after August 15 — Kathimerini

GENOP/DEH-KHE: Γενική Ομοσπονδία Εργαζομένων/ΔΕΗ-Κλάδου Ηλεκτρικής Ενέργειας (ΓΕΝΟΠ/ΔΕΗ-ΚΗΕ), or the General Confederation of Electric Power Workers, is a union representing employees of power company DEH/PPC in Greece. Strikes take the form of rolling, one-hour blackouts; and are announced in Greek on their website: www.genop.gr

GSEE: The private sector union Γενική Συνομοσπονδία Εργατών Ελλάδας (ΓΣΕΕ), or General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE), represents approximately 2 million employees in Greece, though not all workers are members and strikes are not decided by referendum. With an estimated 60,000 businesses set to shut down by end of 2010, privately owned businesses and companies remain open normal hours on strike days simply because they are fighting for survival and want to welcome customers. All strikes are announced in Greek by Greek media and the union’s website: www.gsee.gr

Journalists: Journalists working as part of the Ελληνικών Μέσων Μαζικής Επικοινωνίας (MME), or Greek mass information media, must strike when board members call a blackout, even if they disagree. Foreign press continue to disseminate news. Most strikes begin at 6:00 and last 24 hours, though they can end sooner if a compelling event occurs.

Announcements are in Greek via: a) Greek media; b) Πανελλήνια Ομοσπονδία Ενώσεων Συντακτών (POESY) or the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists Union at www.poesy.gr; or c) Ενώσεως Συντακτών Ημερησίων Εφημερίδων Αθηνών (ΕΣΗΕΑ), or Journalists Union of Athens Daily Newspapers, at www.esiea.gr.

Lawyers (DSE): Δικηγορικών Συλλόγων Ελλάδος (ΔΣΕ), or the Bar Association of Greece, decides whether lawyers nationwide will strike but any of 63 individual prefectures can vote differently. When lawyers are on strike, court cases must be delayed and rescheduled. Announcements are made by Greek media.

Olympic Air: Olympic Air has its hub in Athens and has no choice but to cancel or alter flight schedules if air traffic controllers (EEEKE) and/or the local aviation union (OSYPA) decide to strike. Press releases are first published in Greek then English less than 48 hours before a strike via their website: www.olympicair.com

Taxi Drivers: Taxi drivers stage 24-hour strikes that normally begin at 5:00, with announcements made via Greek media. If public transport goes on strike, taxi companies are known to decline appointments unless you’re a regular customer, and standing on the street and/or sharing a cab will be necessary. Customers can report bad behavior by writing down the license plate number, then calling the taxi complaint hot line at ‘1019′ or tourist police at ‘171.’

Teachers/Professors: Determining what schools and universities are on strike is difficult, as some classes within the same institution on the same day may go forward while others will not; and parents rarely get advance notice or are only informed after dropping off children and must go back to pick them up. Announcements are published in Greek by Greek media and occasionally by unions: a) Ομοσπονδία Λειτουργών Μέσης Εκπαίδευσης (ΟΛΜΕ), or Federation of Secondary Education Teachers (OLME) at www.olme.gr; and b) Διδασκαλική Ομοσπονδία Ελλάδας (ΔΟΕ), or Teachers Federation of Greece, at www.doe.gr

Thessaloniki transportation (OASTH): Οργανισμός Αστικών Συγκοινωνιών Θεσσαλονίκης (ΟΑΣΘ), or Thessaloniki Urban Transport Authority, oversees city and airport buses, plus the future Thessaloniki metro. Announcements are posted in Greek on its website: www.oasth.gr

Trains (TRAINOSE): TRAINΟΣΕ — formerly Οργανισμός Σιδηροδρόμων Ελλάδος (ΟΣΕ) or Hellenic Railways (OSE) until December 2008 — is an independent company overseen by the ministry of transport, which manages operations of the long-distance train network and suburban railway (proastiakos). During strikes, the train network operates on an emergency or “social needs” basis and the suburban railway stops service to the Athens airport. Announcements are typically in Greek from Greek media and OASA. The company website posts only half of strikes: www.trainose.com

The Author

Kat is a well-traveled American journalist and author who lives and works full time in Athens. To learn more, see “About Me.”

Livingingreece.gr was created in 2007 to present meticulously researched original articles that fill a gap left by traditional media, government portals and commercial websites run by people without credentials. @LivinginGreece is a Twitter feed curated from recognized Greek and international news agencies to provide breaking news about Greece, plus real-time updates and insider tips mined from 12 years experience.

Note: If you run a competing website distributing information about Greece or strikes, please note my copyright policy and be aware that plagiarism and copyright violations will be pursued.