Greece is expected to face widespread disruptions on Wednesday, April 9, as the country's two largest labour unions — the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), which represents private sector employees, and the Civil Servants' Confederation (ADEDY), representing the public sector — have called for a 24-hour nationwide strike. The walkout is expected to paralyse key sectors, including transportation, education, public administration, and maritime services.

Workers are rallying behind demands for wage increases, restoration of pre-austerity benefits such as the 13th and 14th monthly salaries, collective labour agreements, and urgent government action to address the soaring cost of living and deepening housing crisis. Air traffic across the country will come to a halt, as members of the Greek Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (EEEKE) join the strike. They will only manage emergency flights — including medical, humanitarian, and military operations — during the 24-hour period. Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) has confirmed that no commercial flights will operate between 00:00 and 23:59 on April 9.

Greece’s flagship carriers, Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air, are offering passengers due to travel that day flexible options, including free rebooking or cancellation for a credit voucher.

Public transport in Athens will also be heavily impacted. Bus and trolleybus workers will operate on a limited schedule, running services only from 9am to 9pm, with no service before or after those hours. However, intercity KTEL buses are expected to operate normally. Metro, tram, and suburban rail services — including the Proastiakos line — will be completely suspended for the day.

Ferry traffic will grind to a halt, as the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) has announced a 24-hour strike involving all categories of vessels. This action is expected to affect passenger and cargo transport to and from the country’s islands. Seafarers are demanding fair pay, stronger labour protections, and action against inflation.

Local government services are also set to be disrupted, with the union of local authority employees (POE-OTA) backing the strike. The union has accused the government of exacerbating inequality through public sector privatisation and failing to act on urgent social concerns like affordable housing, low wages, and inadequate public investment.

POE-OTA is also invoking the memory of the Tempi train disaster, in which 57 people were killed in February 2023, as a symbol of systemic failure and lack of accountability. The union’s statement describes Greek society as being "on the verge of explosion," and has called for a mass rally in Syntagma Square at 10:30am, in front of the Ministry of Finance.

Wednesday’s strike is part of a growing wave of labour unrest and public dissatisfaction. Last month, Greece saw tens of thousands participate in coordinated strike actions and protests in central Athens and other cities, driven by anger over high inflation, stagnant wages, and long-standing deficiencies in public infrastructure and services.

The Tempi disaster — the deadliest train accident in Greek history — has continued to fuel frustration over perceived government negligence, with protesters demanding justice for the victims and long-overdue reforms in transport safety and transparency.

Despite recent economic recovery following years of austerity and international bailouts, many Greek workers say wages have not kept pace with inflation. According to Eurostat, Greece remains among the EU countries with the lowest minimum wages, while high rent prices and basic living costs continue to strain household budgets.

Unions are pressing the government to reverse post-crisis austerity measures and reinstate benefits that were scrapped during the country’s financial turmoil.

They are also calling for substantial public investment and reforms to safeguard workers' rights, improve working conditions, and alleviate economic inequality. The April 9 strike is expected to be one of the most significant coordinated labor actions in Greece in recent years.