48-hour taxi strike in Athens: chaos for 10,000 tourists!

48-hour taxi strike in Athens: chaos for 10,000 tourists!

The taxi and Uber policies of Athens Airport as well as the decisions of the Ministry of Finance have led to a massive protest by around 14,000 taxi drivers in Athens since today. Taxi drivers have called for a 48-hour strike to paralyze traffic in the capital and draw attention to their concerns. As a result, important traffic arteries are blocked by taxi convoys, which poses a significant challenge, especially for tourists. It is estimated that there are currently around 10,000 German tourists in Athens who are relying on public transport to get between the city center and the airport during the strike.

One of the main points of contention is the introduction of parking spaces for Uber vehicles in the arrivals area of ​​the airport, which is causing great resentment among regular taxi drivers. They criticize the unfair competitive situation because they often have to wait a long time for customers, while Uber drivers can pick up passengers using the app. In addition, the fixed price for journeys between the city center and the airport, which is 40 euros during the day and 55 euros at night for the 38 kilometer route, is not considered to cover costs. The Athens Taxi Drivers' Union has expressed concerns that the fixed prices do not cover actual costs due to high traffic volumes and varying route lengths.

Coinciding with nationwide strike

The second day of the taxi strike coincides with a nationwide strike by public and private employees led by the major union ADEDY. This calls for comprehensive accountability for the tragic train disaster on February 28, 2023, in which almost 60 people died. The nationwide strike will not only affect the taxi industry, but also affect all public transport in Athens. In addition, many ferries are expected to remain in port and numerous flights will be canceled due to the involvement of the air traffic controllers association.

In addition to the transport challenges, the ADEDY strikers are demanding, among other things, a 10 percent wage increase in the public sector, better collective bargaining regulations and tax relief. The protests have received widespread support, including from medical workers in public hospitals and teachers in public schools, who have also expressed discontent over working conditions and economic challenges.

The current situation in Athens once again highlights the challenges faced by the taxi industry and other public sector workers. Both citizens and tourists in the city have to prepare for significant restrictions on public transport.

For more information about the background to the protests you can read the articles on Süddeutsche.de and Independent.co.uk read.