Athens Metro and Tram Shut Down for May Day as Transit Workers Strike Over Safety and Pay

Athens commuters will be left without metro or tram services on Friday as transit workers launch a 24-hour strike to mark International Workers' Day, adding to nationwide labor mobilizations that will bring much of the country to a standstill.

STASY, the operator of Athens' fixed-track transport network, confirmed that Metro Lines 1, 2 and 3 and the city's tram network

Union leaders said the action goes beyond symbolic commemoration of the 1886 Chicago labor struggles that gave rise to International Workers' Day.

Workers are demanding substantial wage increases through collective bargaining, the reinstatement of 13th and 14th-month salary bonuses and the removal of private contractors from the public transit network.

A driving force behind this year's mobilization is a reported spike in workplace accidents. Union representatives said occupational safety must be treated as a fundamental right rather than an operational cost, and called for a full investigation into recent on-duty fatalities within the transit authority.

Costas Dandoulakis, a regional labor representative, said the strike was also intended to highlight the need for permanent staff hiring to fill critical gaps in the network.

The stoppage reflects a broader tension between public sector unions and the government over working conditions and purchasing power, as persistent inflation continues to erode real wages despite Greece's improving macroeconomic indicators. Supermarkets and some retail outlets will remain open on the public holiday with reduced hours.

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Athens commuters will be left without metro or tram services on Friday as transit workers launch a 24-hour strike to mark International Workers' Day, adding to nationwide labor mobilizations that will bring much of the country to a standstill.

STASY, the operator of Athens' fixed-track transport network, confirmed that Metro Lines 1, 2 and 3 and the city's tram network will be completely suspended from the start to the end of operations on May 1. Bus services are expected to bear the overflow, with significant traffic congestion anticipated as commuters turn to private vehicles.

Union leaders said the action goes beyond symbolic commemoration of the 1886 Chicago labor struggles that gave rise to International Workers' Day.

Workers are demanding substantial wage increases through collective bargaining, the reinstatement of 13th and 14th-month salary bonuses and the removal of private contractors from the public transit network.

A driving force behind this year's mobilization is a reported spike in workplace accidents. Union representatives said occupational safety must be treated as a fundamental right rather than an operational cost, and called for a full investigation into recent on-duty fatalities within the transit authority.

Costas Dandoulakis, a regional labor representative, said the strike was also intended to highlight the need for permanent staff hiring to fill critical gaps in the network.

The stoppage reflects a broader tension between public sector unions and the government over working conditions and purchasing power, as persistent inflation continues to erode real wages despite Greece's improving macroeconomic indicators. Supermarkets and some retail outlets will remain open on the public holiday with reduced hours.

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