A nationwide 24-hour strike has been announced in Greece for Tuesday, October 14, 2025, one day before parliament votes on a controversial labor reform bill that introduces 13-hour workdays. Greece’s largest public sector union, ADEDY, along with different federations, labor centers, and unions across the country are set to participate, with Athens transport workers confirming their involvement.
The strike is expected to significantly disrupt public transport in the capital. According to a joint statement from nine unions representing employees at STASY, Metro, Tram, and the Athens-Piraeus Electric Railway will operate only between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Outside those hours, services will be suspended.
Unions say their action is directed against what they describe as an “anti-labor” bill from the Ministry of Labor, arguing it threatens long-standing workers’ rights and undermines the eight-hour workday
The main protest will take place at 11:00 a.m. in Syntagma Square, in central Athens. ADEDY said the action continues the momentum from its October 1 strike, rejecting what it calls the government’s “flexible working hours” policy — a reform the union argues effectively abolishes the eight-hour workday and undermines family and social life.
“The government, instead of supporting workers’ income and strengthening public services, is legislating overwork, exhaustion, and silence in workplaces,” ADEDY said in its statement.
Union Demands
The union is calling for:
- Withdrawal of the 13-hour workday bill
- A 35-hour workweek (7 hours per day, 5 days a week)
- Reinstatement of 13th and 14th monthly salaries
- Substantial pay raises and abolition of the 2% levy on public employees
- Collective bargaining rights in the public sector
- Permanent, stable employment for all workers
- Repeal of the New Disciplinary Code for civil servants
ADEDY also criticized recent economic measures announced by the Prime Minister at the Thessaloniki International Fair, calling them “a provocation and a mockery.” The union said that the only benefit offered to public servants — a minor tax cut — amounts to “mere crumbs” of €100 to €200 annually, insufficient to counter rising living costs and inflation.
