Greece's maritime transport remains paralyzed as the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) strike enters its second day, leaving passenger ferries docked across the country.
The strike, which began at midnight on Thursday is set to continue until midnight on Friday. However, a glimmer of hope has emerged with news that PNO leadership will meet with Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides tomorrow in a bid to resolve the ongoing labor dispute.
The strike stems from disagreements over collective bargaining agreements and broader concerns regarding working conditions for Greek seafarers.
The PNO is demanding a 12% wage increase, improved staffing levels during the off-season, and a reassessment of regulations governing high-speed ferry deployments.
In an attempt to break the deadlock, the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies (SEEN) has presented a new wage offer.
According to reports, the revised proposal includes a 5% wage increase for 2025 and a further 2% for 2026, exceeding their previous offer of a 3% increase. SEEN also pointed out that passenger ship crews have already received a cumulative wage increase of over 11% for 2023-2024.
However, the PNO argues that these recent increases fail to compensate for years of stagnant wages. Union sources highlight that between 2010 and 2019, total wage increases amounted to a mere 6.5%, indicating a deep-seated dissatisfaction among seafarers.
"This strike is about more than just wages," emphasized PNO General Secretary Manolis Tsikalakis. "We need solutions for the chronic issues plaguing our seafarers, including understaffing during the winter months and unfair regulations for high-speed ferry crews."
The meeting with Minister Stylianides is seen as a crucial opportunity to address these concerns and potentially find a resolution to the strike, preventing further disruption to Greece's vital coastal transport network.
With the upcoming three-day holiday weekend fast approaching, the pressure is on to find a solution that will get ferries sailing again and allow passengers to reach their destinations.