Athens commuters will face a third consecutive day without taxi service as the city’s taxi strike, which began on Tuesday, has been extended until 6 a.m. on Friday. The Taxi Drivers’ Union has urged its members to gather again on Thursday morning for a major demonstration on a central avenue in western Athens.

The union’s call for renewed action comes one day after tense clashes outside the Ministry of Transport. Protesters attempted to enter the ministry building to demand a meeting with officials, prompting police to deploy tear gas to push them back.

Union Condemns Police Response

In a strongly worded statement, the Taxi Drivers’ Union accused authorities of “state repression,” arguing that police violence against drivers “seeking the obvious” violates principles of justice and dignity.

“When those who should protect citizens choose instead to attack workers, it becomes clear we are facing a raw form of state suppression meant to silence society’s voice,” the union said.

The statement added that the use of force sends “a message of fear to anyone who dares to resist and fight for their rights,” insisting that taxi drivers are “not enemies nor targets of repression, but people experiencing firsthand the violence of a system that turns its back on them.”

New Protest at Major Athens Thoroughfare

The union has called on drivers to gather at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday at a key intersection along Athinon Avenue, a major route connecting central Athens with the western suburbs. The group plans to demonstrate with their vehicles, likely causing further traffic disruption.

As the strike stretches into its third day, public transport options in Athens remain limited during peak hours, and authorities warn of additional congestion around protest sites. The union says it will continue its mobilizations and demands justice and respect for workers following yesterday’s confrontation with police.