Athens Taxi drivers announce new three-day strike
Taxi drivers in Athens are set to stage a new 72-hour strike from Tuesday, February 17 through Thursday, February 19, as tensions escalate with the government over pending transport legislation.
The action was announced by the SΑΤΑ, which represents taxi owners in Attica. Union president Thimios Limberopoulos warned that if the draft bill is formally submitted to Parliament, the sector will move to an open-ended strike.
The union’s key demands include:
- A gradual — not forced — transition to electric vehicles
- Clear regulatory boundaries between taxis and chauffeur-driven private cars (E.I.X.)
- Measures against what it calls unfair competition from multinational platforms
- Access for occupied taxis to dedicated bus lanes
- Revisions to the current taxation framework, which drivers describe as excessive.
In a sharply worded statement, the union accused the Transport Ministry of refusing dialogue and imposing legislation without consultation. It described the strike as a “one-way path of resistance” against what it called the degradation of the profession and legislative arbitrariness.
Further disruption to transport services in the capital is expected if talks fail to resume.
