İskeçe Trade Unions and workers join nationwide strike on October 1

Trade unions, professional associations, and workers in İskeçe took part on Wednesday in the 24-hour nationwide strike, which included a rally at 10:30 a.m. outside the city’s Labor Center. The turnout, however, was limited compared to expectations.

The strike was organized around key demands: withdrawal of the government’s new labor bill introducing 13-hour workdays, the establishment of a 35-hour, five-day working week for all, abolition of the new disciplinary law, restoration of the 13th and 14th salaries, wage increases, and the extension of collective agreements to public sector employees.

📢 Union Leaders’ Statements

Thanasis Sisamperis, President of the İskeçe Labor Center, accused the government of “barbaric behavior” toward workers, leading to the “complete dismantling of the welfare state.” He argued that Greece is “sinking into a labor Middle Ages” and called unity and struggle the only path forward. He also criticized the absence of a government plan to tackle inflation, stressing that policies only serve “employer interests” and institutionalize 13-hour workdays.

Charalambos Efstratiou, President of ADEDY İskeçe, lamented the low turnout, saying many union members “failed to grasp the gravity of the situation.” He highlighted inflation as unbearable for citizens and argued that higher wages would boost local consumption. He also condemned “anti-labor evaluation practices” in the new disciplinary framework and demanded a return to proper collective bargaining and shorter working hours.

Voula Machairidou, President of the Judicial Employees’ Union of İskeçe, warned that the bill “does not only concern private-sector workers but society as a whole,” declaring, “We don’t want our children to become modern slaves forced to work two jobs just to survive.” Her union is calling for a 20% wage increase, restoration of lost salaries and allowances, tax relief, and adequate staffing of judicial services.

Thanasis Papadopoulos, head of the Private and Commercial Employees’ Union of İskeçe, hailed the protest as resistance to a “slavery bill,” arguing that workers are already forced to work multiple jobs to cope with rising costs.

Following the speeches, strikers marched through the central streets of İskeçe.