The Panhellenic Federation of Journalists’ Associations (POESY) and its member unions (ESIEA, ESIEMΘ, ESIEPIN, ESIEΘΣτΕΕ, and ESΠΗT) have declared a 24-hour nationwide strike for all journalists across public and private media on February 18, 2025. The strike will began at 5 AM on Tuesday, February 18, and end at 5 AM on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Journalists are demanding the signing of collective bargaining agreements across all media sectors (TV, newspapers, magazines, online, and radio). 

Demands include:

  1. Negotiations with employers to end the practice of individual contracts.
  2. A minimum starting salary of €1,250 across all media.
  3. 10% salary increases based on the most recent collective bargaining agreements.
  4. Fixed pay rates for weekend work (+25% for Saturday, +100% for Sunday) and higher compensation for out-of-office assignments.
  5. Hazard pay for special coverage (€350 in war zones, €250 in natural disaster areas).
  6. Ethical standards in contracts, anti-SLAPP protections, and AI regulations in journalism.
  7. Fair copyright royalties for journalists in print, digital, and broadcast media.
  8. Financial aid to counter inflation, similar to support given to public media employees.
  9. Removal of austerity-era restrictions in public media collective contracts.
  10. Measures to control rising costs in food, energy, and housing, as well as initiatives to support print journalism and protect jobs.
  11. Restoration of journalists’ right to unilateral arbitration.

The existing public sector media agreements have provided some support, but journalists insist on salary increases, starting with a €1,250 minimum introductory wage, and better conditions.

To Vima International Edition is participating in the strike, and echoes the demands for the signing of collective bargaining agreements.