Greece experienced widespread disruptions on Wednesday as workers from both the public and private sectors participated in a 24-hour general strike. This strike significantly affected services throughout the nation, resulting in the suspension of public transportation in Athens for several hours and leaving ferries that typically connect the islands to the mainland sidelined in ports.

Medical personnel and teachers from state-run institutions also joined the boycott, which was organized by labor unions to protest the escalating cost of living. Additionally, the unions are advocating for renewed collective wage agreements, which had been curtailed during the nearly decade-long financial crisis that began in 2010.

In solidarity with the strike, journalists from various Greek media outlets conducted a separate 24-hour strike on Tuesday, effectively halting news broadcasts for the day to focus on the events of Wednesday’s general strike.

Later in the day, protest marches were scheduled to take place in central Athens. Union leaders have voiced strong criticism of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s center-right administration, accusing it of neglecting to effectively address inflation and housing challenges that have severely impacted workers’ quality of life.

Greece endured an extensive financial crisis that resulted in the loss of a quarter of its economy, stemming from years of excessive spending that left the nation unable to access international bond markets. The country received multiple international bailouts, which mandated harsh reforms including cuts to pensions and wages, leading to rising poverty and soaring unemployment.

Although Greece has since seen a return to robust economic growth and has regained its investment-grade status, it unfortunately still holds the highest debt-to-GDP ratio across the European Union, indicating ongoing financial challenges for the country.