A 24-hour nationwide strike is set to bring Greece to a standstill on Tuesday, October 14, as public and private sector workers protest against a controversial labor bill that would allow 13-hour workdays.
The strike, organized by the civil servants’ union ADEDY and the Athens Labor Center (EKA), coincides with the parliamentary debate on the proposed legislation. Unions argue that the reform would abolish the eight-hour workday, dismantle work-life balance, and institutionalize “hyper-exploitation.”
Public transport disruptions
The strike will heavily impact Athens’ public transportation network, with metro, tram, and suburban rail services operating only between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to facilitate access to protest sites.
Buses and trolley buses will run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., though service will begin gradually after 10:00 a.m. and start winding down around 8:00 p.m.
Train and suburban railway (Proastiakos) services will also be affected, as the Panhellenic Railway Federation joins the strike. The national operator, Hellenic Train, is expected to announce which routes will be canceled, with only a few potentially running under emergency staffing.
Main rally at Syntagma Square
ADEDY and the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) are calling on the public to gather for a mass rally at 11:00 a.m. in Syntagma Square, outside the Greek Parliament.
The unions say the protest continues the momentum of their October 1 strike and targets “the so-called flexible schedule,” which they describe as a “direct attack on the eight-hour workday and on family and social life.”
In their joint statement, ADEDY accuses the government of prioritizing “overwork and labor silence” instead of supporting income and public services.
Workers’ key demands
Union demands include:
- Withdrawal of the 13-hour workday bill
- Restoration of the 7-hour day, 5-day week, 35-hour work standard
- Reinstatement of 13th and 14th salaries
- Meaningful wage increases and abolition of the 2% contribution
- Enforcement of collective bargaining agreements in the public sector
- Stable, permanent employment for all workers
- Abolition of the new disciplinary framework for civil servants
The statement also criticized the Prime Minister’s recent announcements at the Thessaloniki International Fair as “an insult,” claiming that the proposed 2% tax cut amounts to just €100–€200 a year — “crumbs” compared to soaring living costs.
The 24-hour strike is expected to cause major disruptions in the Athens metropolitan area and could test public sentiment toward a government pushing what unions call one of the most radical labor overhauls in decades.
