Greek Dockers and Mariners Join Forces for 24-Hour General Strike in Athens

Greek dockers and mariners have participated in a 24-hour general strike in Athens, disrupting cargo operations at the Cosco-operated container terminals in the port of Piraeus. The Panhellenic Maritime Federation has joined the strike, initiating a shutdown of coastal shipping starting at midnight on Wednesday. Ro/ro ferry mariners have also taken part in demonstrations at ramp landing piers, calling for higher wages to cope with inflation, measures to tackle the housing affordability crisis, and enhanced safety protocols.

The Panhellenic Maritime Federation highlighted that Greek seafarers, due to the nature of their profession, are among the first to feel the impact of inflation, as they typically work only five to six months a year to support themselves and their families throughout the year.

The Union of Cargo Handling at the Piraeus piers urged all workers to join the strike at 6 AM in the harbor and participate in a mass rally at the Piraeus Municipal Theater later that morning. Dockers reportedly halted work at Cosco’s Pier II and Pier III container terminals.

According to the GSEE union, the purchasing power of Greek workers has decreased by eight percent since 2019 due to inflation. The union is advocating for wage increases, a restructuring of collective bargaining rules, and greater government investment in public housing.

The general strike also saw participation from teachers, hospital workers, metro train and bus drivers, and other public-sector employees, drawing an estimated 12 000 people in central Athens and an additional 5 000 in Thessaloniki. The strike was strategically timed to coincide with the government’s submission of its 2025 budget to the Greek parliament, aiming to influence budgetary decisions.