Hellenic Unions to Launch Another 48-Hour Strike

Hellenic Crew Union and the Towage and Salvage Crew Union of Piraeus have announced a new 48-hour strike in Greece on 27 January.

The new strike comes just a week after the latest strike round when unions protested against the government’s planned changes to labour and insurance rights, pensions and retirement ages, which remain the key issue behind this strike as well.

As informed by Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the 48-hour strike is expected to affect the routes of domestic and local ferries and commercial vessels calling at Piraeus, Aspropyrgos, Eleusis, Pachi and Megara ports for cargo discharging.

The strike action is scheduled to start at 06:00 local time on 27 January and end at 06:00 on 29 January.

During the stoppage period, vessels will not be able to berth, shift or sail from the affected ports. Tug boats in Thessaloniki are expected to work normally on these dates as these crew will not be attending this strike, ISS said.

The announcement comes just as Greece accepted Cosco’s offer for the privatization of the country’s largest port of Piraeus. Last week Cosco Group submitted an improved binding offer worth USD 402.3 million for the 67% stake in the port, the country’s privatization body said.