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Nationwide strike begins in Greece to protest tax increases

16 December 2025 03:46 (UTC +04:00)

The Greek Supreme Council of Public Sector Trade Unions (ADEDY) is launching a 24-hour nationwide strike to protest the government's plan to adopt an "anti-people state budget" for 2026, which includes sharp tax increases, APA reports.

The Panhellenic Federation of Local Government Employees (POE-OTA) and the Federation of Secondary Education Teachers (OLME) have joined the strike of the country's largest trade union. Municipal institutions will be closed that day, and public schools will be closed. OLME stated that "teachers are participating in the strike of all ADEDY public employees to defend their labor, wage, and social rights." Regarding public transportation, only the bus drivers' union has announced its participation in the strike, which will lead to changes in bus schedules. The metro and other public transportation will operate as usual.

Trade unions are planning a mass rally in Athens' central Syntagma Square, outside the country's highest legislative body, and have called on all workers to attend.

The Supreme Council of the Public Sector Trade Union has decided to hold a 24-hour nationwide strike in protest against the government's plan to adopt a "new anti-people state budget, which includes sharp tax increases for workers and new privileges for large business groups." According to the union, while low-paid public servants continue to struggle to afford their living expenses, "the government is allocating more than 21 billion euros to investments in the military economy."

ADEDY also expressed its full solidarity with the agricultural workers' protests and infrastructure blockades they have organized across the country. According to the union, "the farmers' struggle is just: it is a fight for survival, for preserving their livelihoods, for the ability to continue living on their land and producing high-quality, affordable food for the entire population."

Following debates, the Greek Parliament will vote on the 2026 state budget bill at its plenary session. The bill, which calls for 2.4% GDP growth in 2026, has already been overwhelmingly passed by the parliament's standing committee on economic affairs. In the committee, only representatives of the ruling New Democracy party voted in favor of the bill, while members of all opposition parties voted against it. New Democracy, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, holds a 156-seat majority in the unicameral 300-seat parliament, allowing it to pass bills even if all opposition parties vote against them.