Union decries ‘exhaustion’ of workers in tourism, plans strike

Workers in Greece’s food service and hotel sectors are planning to stage a 24-hour, nationwide strike next week, as unions demand higher pay, stronger labor protections and stricter enforcement of employment laws.

The June 24 strike was called by the Federation of Catering and Tourism Workers (POEET), which said walkouts and protest rallies will be held across the country through local unions. The main demonstration is scheduled for 11 a.m. outside the Labor Ministry in Athens.

Announcing the action, the federation cited what it described as exhausting working hours, abuses of the 13-hour workday (allowed under recent regulations when an employee works for more than one employer), violations of the Digital Work Card system for clocking in hours and widespread breaches of sectoral collective labor agreements.

“The tourism growth touted by the government and major hotel operators is being built on the exhaustion of workers, underpaid labor and violations of workers’ rights,” the federation said.

POEET also accused the government of failing to adequately support seasonal workers, noting that unemployment benefits remain limited as rising living costs continue to squeeze household budgets.

Among its demands, POEET is calling for substantial wage increases, mandatory implementation of collective labor agreements throughout the sector, enforcement of the five-day, eight-hour workweek, payment for all overtime, improved workplace health and safety measures, stronger inspections targeting undeclared work, and expanded protections and insurance rights for seasonal employees.

“Without us, no hotel, restaurant or tourism business can operate,” the federation said.