Massive strikes crippled Greece

– International news – Tasnim News Agency, German “Focus” magazine wrote in an article: Greece has overcome the economic crisis in recent years according to the government and It has recorded economic successes. However, the majority of the Greek population is having trouble making ends meet.

This situation has led to widespread strikes in Greece today (Wednesday). In the shadow of these strikes, subway entrances were blocked, buses stayed in parking lots, and daily newspapers were no longer available in kiosks. In this way, on Wednesday, Greece experienced stagnation in many sectors. In response to the rising cost of living, the trade union umbrella organization GSEE called for a strike across the country, chanting “Prices are high, our wages are down in Tartarus [a part of the underworld in Greek mythology]. The strikers’ list of demands primarily included higher wages and more consistent use of collective bargaining, but also called for effective measures against the dramatic price hikes that are spreading throughout Greece.

The general strike began on Tuesday (April 16, 2024) with a nationwide 24-hour strike by Greek journalists as well as technical and administrative staff of all print and online media in the public and private sectors.

Greece has been for some time which has recovered from the severe financial crisis of 2010 to 2016 and has recorded significant economic successes in recent years. However, discontent is growing among the Greek people. For a large part of Greeks, covering living expenses is a serious challenge. According to Eurostat, the purchasing power of Greeks is the second lowest in the European Union. Only Bulgarians can spend less than Greeks compared to their income.

The transport sector is particularly affected by this general strike: the Athens metro and all trains and trams are on strike, ferries They stay in the ports and the buses only run in certain time slots. Hospital doctors are also participating in this 24-hour strike. Among other things, they want a health care system with open access for all and an increase in hospital staff.

Taxi drivers also stopped working. In order to survive and make a living, I have to work at least ten hours a day on average, says Pavlos Sigkonakis, a taxi driver in Athens, describing his daily life. George Mamalis, also a taxi driver in Athens, had a similar experience. He says: “Because of the high prices and taxes for us taxi drivers, the situation is getting worse every day, no matter how much I work.

George Aslanidis has been a bus driver for about 20 years. Is. “We want our lives back,” he says. “Many are of the opinion that a strike will do nothing, but it is worth a try.” It’s not just the low wages that are a problem for him, he also finds the working conditions almost unbearable. He said: There is a shortage of personnel. There are also technical defects. In yesterday’s shift I had to change the car twice because it broke down.”

Greece will raise the minimum wage by 6.4 percent to €830 a month in April 2024. But for many Greeks, this is still not enough. “Greece’s minimum wage is much lower than the European average,” says Thanassis, who is active in the GSEE. /p>

This 29-year-old believes that the previous actions of the Greek government to strengthen the economy are not welcomed by the people. If we talk about the population of Greece, then this is not a success story, but a hellish scenario.”

More on this: The high inflation of the past few months has left many Greeks with low wages and pensions. Georges, a 60-year-old pensioner in this country, is also struggling to make a living. He says: “I get a pension at the end of the month and we have to borrow money from our children. So our pension is only for ten The day is enough. He and his wife Teodora do not have to pay rent. He has worked in the public sector for 36 years. He says that his pension is 950 euros It’s not enough to buy at the supermarket. He also said: “Before Corona, we used to pay 100 euros for two weeks. Today, we try to save on low-quality products everywhere.”

To deal with skyrocketing prices, the Greek government introduced the so-called “household basket” plan in November 2022, which aims to guarantee lower prices for some basic food items. The so-called “Easter basket” was even introduced specifically for the Greek Orthodox Easter on May 5, 2024. However, some products, such as olive oil, have become luxury goods in the country and are difficult for certain segments of the population. They are affordable.

However, striking is not an option for everyone. Georges and Theodora point out that many Greeks are afraid to participate in the strike. Teodora says: “My son would have been fired the next day if he went on strike, and if his salary was lost, he would not be able to feed the family.” 36-year-old Georges, who works as an electrical engineer in Energy Works also makes similar statements.

He says: “In my company, one of his colleagues was fired for participating in the strike. “A lot of people are afraid of going on strike, not just in low-paying industries but in higher-paying jobs, because they’re afraid of job losses.” The idea that nothing can be achieved through a strike is also very common. But Georges disagrees with this opinion: he says about this: In my opinion, it is not important what you get from such a strike the next day or the day after that, but here it is more about creating a collective consciousness. .” Georges believes that this is the only way to start real change.

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