The Panhellenic Union of Merchant Marine Sailors (PENEN) has announced a fresh 24-hour strike, extending its industrial action for a sixth consecutive day on the busy Patras–Igoumenitsa–Italy ferry line. The new strike period began at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, and will continue through to the same time on Sunday, June 22.
The decision follows a union assembly in which members unanimously rejected the latest proposal by the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies (SEEN). The offer, union officials stated, was deemed insufficient and unrelated to the core demands of maritime workers.
According to sources, SEEN had proposed enhancing crew numbers on Adriatic Sea vessels and pledged remuneration for a set number of trucks loaded into the ships’ garages, as part of broader negotiations with the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO). However, PENEN members countered with a revised proposal of their own, which was submitted to SEEN during the talks.
In a strongly worded statement, PENEN blamed the breakdown in negotiations on both SEEN and the Greek government. “Today’s negotiations proved fruitless. As such, the shipping employers and the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy bear full responsibility for the escalation of our struggle,” the union declared. “They are accountable for the disruption now affecting the Patras–Igoumenitsa–Italy line.”
The prolonged strike has caused significant disruptions to ferry services linking western Greece to Italy, a key transport corridor for both passenger and freight traffic. The deadlock highlights mounting tensions over labor conditions aboard international ferry routes, particularly those operating in the Adriatic.
PENEN has not ruled out further action, indicating that the dispute will continue until meaningful negotiations address their core demands.
The sailors’ core demands include:
• The right to two off-ship rest days per month
• Equal pay aligned with the collective labor agreement for coastal shipping
• Reinstatement of ship staffing levels based on Presidential Decree 177/74
• Legal recognition of express ferry routes
• Doubling of garage duty pay
