Greek Ferry Workers Extend Strike for Better Wages Ahead of Holiday Weekend

Greek seafarers’ unions, which represent deckhands, dockworkers, and other critical ferry workers, have extended their strike for an additional two days. The strike, initially planned as a “warning strike” on Tuesday and Wednesday, has now been prolonged as the unions demand better wages and work regulations. This extension comes as Greece approaches a three-day holiday weekend leading up to a national holiday on Monday, with the unions hinting at further escalation if their demands are not met.

The strike has resulted in the suspension of most mainland and interisland ferry services across Greece, leaving the islands in the Aegean and Ionian Sea disconnected from the mainland. While some short-distance runs and domestic tankers and cargo ships have been exempted from the strike, reports indicate that nearly all of the country’s ferries remain docked. Multiple unions, including the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) and the Panhellenic Union of Deckhands (PENEN), are participating in the strike.

The unions’ demands include a 12 percent wage increase for 2025, while the Greek Shipowners Association for Passenger Ships has proposed a three percent raise. Additionally, they are calling for changes to a new law that limits the operations of high-speed ferries to four months a year, classifying crewmembers as “seasonal employees” and depriving them of wages and benefits. The unions are also urging the government to amend the law to require a minimum of seven months of operation.

In their demands, the unions highlight the profits made by shipping companies and the subsidies they receive from the government. According to the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation, the government is providing €150 million in subsidies to shipping companies to maintain service on less-demanding routes and is preparing bonuses to incentivize fleet renewal and green shipping practices. The strike, initially scheduled for October 22 and 23, has been extended to October 24 and 25, with concerns rising about its impact on holiday weekend travel and the continued isolation of the islands from the mainland.

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