Greek Workers Protest for Pay Rises, Express Solidarity with Palestinians on Labour Day

On Labour Day, hundreds of Greek workers marched through central Athens to demand pay rises and condemn amid the ongoing Israeli offensive. The protest, organized by Greece's largest trade unions in the private and public sectors, led to a 24-hour strike that disrupted transportation services such as ships, buses, and metro in the capital.

Many demonstrators gathered peacefully outside the Greek parliament buildings, holding Palestinian flags and releasing balloons into the sky to express their support for Palestinians in Gaza. The protest took place as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued his tour of the Middle East, focusing on urging Israel and Hamas to move ahead with a cease-fire.

The Israel-Gaza war has been ongoing for six months, with tensions spilling into the surrounding region. Israel has waged one of this century's most destructive wars in Gaza, killing tens of thousands and plunging at least half of the population into "famine-like conditions". Despite tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some U.S. politicians, the United States continues to support Israel with weapons, funds, and aid packages, and has vetoed or abstained from the United Nations' cease-fire resolutions.

Why this matters: The Greek workers' protest highlights the intersection of domestic labor issues and international solidarity movements. The ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict has far-reaching implications, not only for the Middle East but also for global public opinion and political activism.

Protesters criticized the austerity measures imposed by previous Greek governments during the debt crisis, which led to a 40% drop in state workers' salaries over the decade. While Greece's economy has been growing, wages for state workers only increased this year for the first time after 14 years, and the government's plan for a performance-based bonus was seen as inadequate by workers. "We are here to demand our rights, better salaries," said Dimitris Karagiannis, a protester from the ADEDY union. "We stand with our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are suffering."

Key Takeaways

• Greek workers protested for pay rises and condemned the Israel-Gaza conflict.
• The protest led to a 24-hour strike disrupting transportation in Athens.
• The Israel-Gaza war has been ongoing for six months, causing massive destruction.
• The U.S. continues to support Israel despite tensions with some U.S. politicians.
• Protesters criticized austerity measures that led to a 40% drop in state workers' salaries.