24-hour strike in Greece on the anniversary of the train accident

A 24-hour strike was held in public transportation on the anniversary of the train accident in Greece, where 57 people lost their lives.
On the anniversary of the train disaster in Greece, which caused great outrage, a 24-hour strike began upon the call of unions. Train and ferry services were disrupted due to the strike, while airlines did not participate in the strike due to a court decision previously taken. In a statement by the public services union ADEDY, representing approximately half a million workers, it was stated, “We returned to the streets to loudly shout that we will not forget a year later. We will continue our struggle for those responsible to be held accountable.”

Unions representing public transportation services demand the removal of wage controls imposed during the 2010-2018 financial crisis. Public sector workers found the salary increases made for the first time in 14 years inadequate and protested against the government. Workers argue that the raises are not sufficient to offset the increasing cost of living and demand a 10% salary increase.

Taxi drivers in the capital Athens of Greece also started a 48-hour strike yesterday. Meanwhile, a court in Greece ruled that protests by air traffic controllers were illegal.

Train disaster
A passenger train carrying 352 people from the capital Athens to Thessaloniki collided head-on with a freight train in the Tempi region on the night of February 28 to March 1 last year. In the disaster, where 57 people lost their lives, the first and second wagons of the passenger train were completely crushed, and the third wagon derailed. Following the accident, which was revealed to be due to human error, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis resigned. Protests were held nationwide following the train accident.