In Athens, Greece, public school teachers took to the streets on Wednesday to protest, marking a significant day of action against the government as tensions escalate regarding workers’ rights. The demonstration was orchestrated by Greece’s civil servants’ union, ADEDY, which organized a 24-hour strike following attempts by the government to prevent the initial actions through legal means.

Labor unions are advocating for the reinstatement of rights that had been diminished during a series of international bailout agreements from 2010 to 2018. These austerity measures, which were mandatory for receiving rescue loans, led to drastic reductions in public expenditure, raised taxes, and introduced labor reforms that weakened the framework of collective bargaining.

The teachers’ unions are pushing for various improvements, including salary raises and the establishment of more permanent roles for temporary staff, amongst other requests. The government contends that the strike did not comply with legal stipulations established under recent labor reforms, while ADEDY has criticized the administration for allegedly attempting to infringe upon workers’ constitutional rights to strike.

The march on Wednesday concluded without any incidents, as participants expressed their dissent peacefully amidst a growing labor movement that seeks to restore fair treatment and equitable conditions for workers.