Protesters are demanding wage hikes and the return of collective labor agreements, arguing that salaries haven't kept pace with soaring inflation and housing costs. CGTN's Evangelo Sipsas reports from Athens.
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NewsTranscript
00:00From early Wednesday morning, thousands of workers gathered across Greece,
00:04rallying in city centers and outside key ministries.
00:08In Athens, crowds formed outside the finance minister and in Klathmonos Square,
00:13responding to strike calls by the country's two largest unions.
00:18The protesters are demanding higher pay and the return of sector-wide collective bargaining agreements,
00:24saying salaries have failed to keep up with the soaring inflation and housing costs.
00:30What we want to say to the government, and this can only be achieved if people come together,
00:36united and in large numbers, not through scattered protests,
00:40is that we need a real wage increase, not just the crumbs they're currently offering.
00:46We're talking about fair raises for everyone.
00:49The real issues are housing, public health care and education,
00:54and the need for strong collective labor agreements.
00:56The strike has brought major disruption to transport across the country.
01:03Air traffic controllers joined the walkout, forcing the cancellation of all domestic and international flights.
01:10Ferry services were halted, and the Pan-Hellenic Seaman's Federation joined the strike.
01:16Union representatives say their demands are about more than just money,
01:20pointing to long-standing safety and staffing concerns.
01:23public transport workers are calling for permanent contracts and improved staffing levels.
01:30It's frustrating to see a government that won't invest in public transportation or hospitals,
01:36and I'm saying this as a doctor,
01:38but somehow always manages to find money for harmful policies.
01:42People are really angry.
01:45We saw that on February 28th, and that anger hasn't gone away.
01:48The march towards Parliament remained peaceful,
01:52as thousands took to the streets to voice their frustration
01:55over what unions describe as economic stagnation and the lack of political action.
02:02The government, meanwhile, says recent labor reforms will modernize Greece
02:06and bring it in line with European standards.
02:10But many workers say the reforms don't go far enough,
02:13with inflation pushing up the cost of everyday essentials.
02:17The reality is our pay runs out by the middle of the month.
02:24The raise the government gave us amounts to less than 50 cents a day,
02:27and with the cost of living constantly rising, we just can't get by.
02:31That's why we're speaking out.
02:32This isn't just a protest, it's a signal.
02:40Workers across Greece say they are done with empty promises and rising costs.
02:46Unless the government meets their demand,
02:48they say Wednesday's disruption will just be the beginning.
02:52Evangelos Ipsos for CGTN, Athens.
02:55José Carlos Reyes