ADEDY coordinates regional unions in Komotini ahead of 25 November strike
Greece’s civil servants’ union confederation ADEDY has held a regional coordination meeting in Gümülcine (Komotini) to prepare for a nationwide strike scheduled for 25 November 2026, with wage increases, the restoration of 13th and 14th salaries, and the protection of workers’ rights among its key demands.
The meeting of ADEDY’s regional departments in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace took place on Friday, 16 October, following decisions by the confederation’s Executive Committee. Participants discussed how to coordinate the strike and organise further industrial action over economic, institutional and social security issues.
The meeting brought together members of ADEDY’s Executive Committee and representatives of regional unions, who outlined the main demands behind the planned mobilisation.
WAGES, COST OF LIVING AND PUBLIC SERVICES
Among the central demands are substantial salary increases, the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th monthly salaries, the abolition of the solidarity levy, recognition of previous employment in the private sector, and measures to address rising living costs.
Union representatives also highlighted issues involving social security, workplace health and safety, collective labour agreements and trade union rights.
Veta Panoutsakou stressed the importance of organising an effective strike, arguing that public-sector employees’ salaries have been severely eroded and further squeezed by rising prices. She also linked pay concerns to difficulties in recruiting new civil servants.
Panoutsakou criticised the government’s approach to public-sector wages, pointing to what she described as a contrast between restrictions on pay increases, high budget surpluses and substantial defence spending. She called for coordinated action by workers to press for changes.
CONCERNS OVER DISCIPLINARY RULES AND JOB SECURITY
The meeting also addressed the new disciplinary framework for public employees, proposed constitutional changes and concerns over the possible abolition of permanent civil-service status.
ADEDY representatives argued that government policies have placed additional pressure on public-sector workers and raised concerns about restrictions on trade union activity.
Tasos Garagkanis said workers were facing inadequate wages and unacceptable working conditions, citing workplace accidents, particularly in local government services. He accused the government of undermining trade union rights and called for sustained action against what he described as an impoverishing wage policy.
The union representatives also stressed the importance of protecting public services, including education and healthcare, from measures they believe threaten their accessibility and quality.
CALL FOR BROADER WORKER PARTICIPATION
Dimitrios Doumos argued that social and economic challenges, including wars, the pandemic and the financial crisis, required a collective response rather than passivity. He called on workers to mobilise for higher wages and the restoration of the 13th and 14th salaries.
Stavroula Papadimitriou emphasised the role of a strong public sector in ensuring access to education, healthcare and social prevention services, describing these services as essential to democracy and social cohesion.
ADEDY representatives said they intend to coordinate with workers in sectors including education and healthcare, where separate industrial actions have also been announced, and to broaden participation beyond the public sector to private-sector employees, farmers and self-employed workers.
The 25 November strike is expected to form part of a wider campaign over pay, employment conditions, public services and workers’ rights. ADEDY’s regional coordination efforts aim to align local unions around these demands ahead of the planned mobilisation.
