Suddenly! The port has suspended operations, operations have been disrupted, and logistics have been delayed!

2024-12-13 14:17:32

According to the latest reports from foreign media, on November 20th local time, Greek port workers and sailors launched a 24-hour strike in Athens, which has hindered the cargo business of the container terminal operated by COSCO Group in Piraeus Port. Shippers and freight forwarders need to pay special attention to recent shipments

The Greek Maritime Federation also actively responded to the strike action and implemented a coastal shipping suspension starting from midnight on Wednesday. Roll on/roll off ferry crew members held a demonstration at the dock, demanding higher wages to resist the impact of inflation, while calling on the government to take measures to address the housing affordability crisis and strengthen safety measures.

The Greek Maritime Federation emphasized in its statement that due to the unique nature of the maritime profession, Greek seafarers, who work five to six months a year to sustain their livelihoods, are one of the first groups to be impacted by inflation.

At the same time, the Piraeus Port Cargo Handling Union also called on all workers to gather at the port at 6am to participate in the strike and attend a mass rally later in the morning at the Piraeus Municipal Theatre. According to the coordinating organization Athens People's Assembly, the workers of COSCO Group at the container terminals of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 in Piraeus have stopped working.

According to data from the union GSEE, since 2019, the purchasing power of Greek workers has decreased by 8% due to the impact of inflation. To this end, the union calls for higher wages, restructuring of the country's collective bargaining rules, and increasing government investment in public housing.

It is worth noting that the strike on November 20th was a nationwide action that not only affected port shipping, but also called on members of multiple Greek unions to participate, involving thousands of workers. They protested against the decline in living standards and demanded higher wages.

In this major strike, shipping, railway transportation, bus drivers, teachers, hospital staff, and other public sector workers actively participated. About 12000 people participated in the center of Athens, while around 5000 people participated in Thessaloniki. The timing of the strike action coincides with the government's submission of the 2025 budget to the Greek parliament, with the aim of influencing government budget decisions through the action.

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