The World Briefly
February 29, 2024Slowcoach
Greece
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Thousands of Greek workers and students took to the streets of central Athens on Wednesday to commemorate the anniversary of the country’s deadliest train accident, and to demand both justice for the victims and bigger pay rises, Reuters reported.
The strike, organized by Greece’s largest public sector union ADEDY, disrupted rail and transport services across the country.
Ports, hospitals, schools, and other public services were also affected as workers voiced their grievances over systemic issues within the railway sector, and broader concerns about wages and living standards.
The mass demonstration comes a year after a passenger train from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki collided with a freight train, killing 57 people.
The accident sparked protests across the country, as many citizens and the victims’ relatives complained about the decades of neglect suffered by the rail sector.
In response, authorities arrested a station master shortly after the crash. Dozens of people have been charged in connection with the incident and the trial is set to begin in June, according to government officials.
While the government has promised to improve the railway system, crash specialists and rail workers noted that the safety systems are still not fully functioning.
Concerns also persist among survivors and victims’ relatives, who are demanding accountability from Greek lawmakers responsible for rail safety when the crash occurred.
Hundreds of thousands of people have signed a petition to strip the parliamentary immunity of those lawmakers, the Associated Press added.
At the same time, protesters highlighted the pressing issue of stagnant wages, particularly in the public sector, where workers have endured austerity measures in the wake of Greece’s debt crisis. Demands are for a 10 percent across-the-board wage increase and more job opportunities.
Greece’s conservative government has increased the minimum monthly salary by 20 percent to $844 since it took office in 2019.
Despite official pledges to further increase it by 2027, disparities persist, with Greek salaries trailing behind the European Union average.
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