General strike in Greece against inflation, disrupting transportation
Taxis, trains, boats, and even media stations were all disrupted as Greek unions protest against the crippling inflation in their country.
Public transport in Athens, Greece, was severely disrupted, and TV and radio news went off-air after unions called on a general strike to protest the price hikes which have been occurring as a result of ravaging inflation and the war in Ukraine.
Athens' busy roads have been rendered empty, with the walkout affecting buses, underground, trams, trains, and taxis in addition to boat services between the Greek islands.
This would mark the second strike in Greece since September.
Price hikes fuelled by the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia have sent inflation to its highest rate in three decades in Greece.
Please RT | Today we have #GeneralStrike in #Greece. Against poor working conditions and inflation. Against those who increase their profits at our expense and the governments that support them.
— Μένουμε Ενεργοί - Υγεία, Συλλογικότητα, Αλληλεγγύη (@Covid19energoi) November 9, 2022
Today is a great day in 🇬🇷. #antireport #GreveGenerale #Strike #WorkersRights pic.twitter.com/2mgpDqX1Qr
A large poster put up by GSEE, the country's biggest union, read: "The cost of living is untenable." The poster called for salary increases and "social protection for all."
A number of unions have called for rallies across the country during the day, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' administration announcing a 5.5 billion euro aid package which includes a 250-euro subsidy to 2.3 million vulnerable citizens in December, in addition to an increase in student housing allowance.
However, unions are stressing that they will need salary rises, not handouts, amid the crippling inflation which mostly affects the working class.