Greek Teachers Strike in Athens Amid Labor Tensions
- Greek public school teachers held a 24-hour strike and marched in central Athens on October 23, 2024.
- The strike, organized by the civil servants' union ADEDY, aimed to highlight demands for improved labor rights and salary increases.
- Tensions between labor unions and the government emphasize ongoing struggles for workers' rights in the face of recent legal and austerity challenges.
On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, public school teachers in Greece participated in a 24-hour strike, marching through central Athens to protest against the government. This demonstration was organized by the civil servants' union ADEDY following a court's attempt to obstruct a previous strike by teaching unions. Workers are advocating for the reinstatement of rights that were diminished due to austerity measures imposed by international bailouts between 2010 and 2018. These measures included substantial cuts to public spending and labor reforms that undermined collective bargaining. Teachers are demanding salary increases and more stable employment for temporary staff, among other issues. The Greek government, however, claims that the strike did not comply with legal requirements established through recent labor reforms while unions accuse the government of attempting to infringe upon workers' rights to protest. The protest concluded without incident, but it highlights ongoing tensions between labor organizations and the center-right government over worker's rights and protections.