Greece's powerful Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) is tightening its grip on the nation's transport network, extending its strike action for another two days, Thursday and Friday.
This follows a near-total shutdown of ferry services on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving countless islands cut off from the mainland and disrupting travel plans for thousands.
The PNO, unlike many other unions in Greece, wields significant influence, and its industrial action has brought coastal shipping to a standstill.
Ferry routes across the Aegean and Ionian Seas have been canceled, with only a few limited services operating on narrow crossings, such as the one between Piraeus and Salamina. Crews on these smaller ferries, along with those working on domestic freighters and tankers, are exempt from the strike.
The extended strike comes at a particularly inconvenient time, as Greece prepares for a three-day weekend with a national holiday on Monday, Oct. 28, commemorating the country's entry into World War II.
The holiday typically sees a surge in ferry travel as people head to the islands, and the strike is expected to cause significant disruption and frustration for travelers.
At the heart of the dispute is the PNO's demand for a new collective bargaining agreement that includes a 12% wage increase and guarantees a minimum seven-month operating season for vessels, among other requests.
The strike is putting immense pressure on ferry operators and the government to reach a resolution, especially with the holiday weekend looming.
With no signs of a breakthrough in negotiations, the extended strike threatens to further disrupt travel plans, impact island economies, and cast a shadow over the upcoming holiday.
The PNO remains resolute in its demands, leaving the country in limbo as it waits to see how this critical standoff will unfold.