Greece stopped by 24-hour general strike over cost of living – DW – 11/20/2024
www.dw.com
Greece ground to a halt as a general strike stopped trains, ships and other transport around the country. Unions have called for the government to raise wages and do more to combat high inflation.

Summary

A 24-hour general strike in Greece on Wednesday shut down transport, schools, and government offices as workers protested high living costs.

Unions are demanding a 10% pay raise and the return of holiday bonuses cut during Greece’s financial crisis.

They accuse Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of not doing enough to tackle inflation, despite recent minimum wage increases.

Hospitals operated on emergency staff, while protests and marches were planned.

Many say wages have not kept up with the rising costs of energy, food, and rent.

  • Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.worldEnglish
    722·
    5 days ago

    Unions aren’t the sole proprietor of the strike. It’s so disheartening to realize over and over again people like yourself have no imagination. No heart. No ingenuity and have to be constantly shown what is possible.

    • chuckleslord@lemmy.worldEnglish
      162·
      5 days ago

      Hey. You’re the one shoveling disheartening shit, not me. Pretending a general strike would be easy here in the states is one of the other reasons why it’s so fucking hard to do. Every time someone half-asses one, people buy into the hype, and then nothing happens makes it less likely for an actual general strike to happen. It’s a logistical nightmare that could only work if you got unions to buy-in, and that would require coordinating contract expirations to coincide around the time you want the strike to happen, since unions in the states can’t legally go on a solidarity strike. I’m definitely not saying it’s impossible, but crying that it’s actually really easy and the fact that America hasn’t done it is because we all actually like the taste of boot is the actual demotivating opinion to shovel.

      • Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.worldEnglish
        215·
        5 days ago

        No, it will work if we get your buy in, but youre already 3d chessing yourself out of it. Like, we’ve tried nothing and we are all out of ideas. Literally.

        Self fulfilling prophecy.

        • otp@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          7·
          5 days ago

          Ok, I presume you’re American since you know how easy it’d be.

          How far along are you in your plan for the general strike?

          • Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.worldEnglish
            38·
            5 days ago

            Considering everyone I talk to has given up just like the OP, not very far. Hey, it doesn’t have to be that way. You could commit to it right now and spread the word. I’m just one guy who will keep advocating. You could too. If I’m mathing correctly, that would double my efforts.

            • otp@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              3·
              5 days ago

              Sorry, I’m not American.

              But you’re just starting now? How would you know how easy it is or isn’t already?

              • Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.worldEnglish
                310·
                5 days ago

                Miss me with your bullshit. You can support the cause now, no matter where you live, or you can be another negative force in a sea of negativity.

                I won’t waste my time with you, though, that’s for sure.