Seamen announce strike extension, air traffic controller’s stoppage may cause disruption

AP — The seamen’s union announced Tuesday afternoon they would extend their strike, originally planned to last 48 hours, for a further two days, leaving ferries servicing Greece’s islands tied up in port until midnight Friday night.

The Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation said it was asking “for the understanding and full support of both the traveling public and all Greek workers,” adding that the new measures would lead seamen “to poverty and destitution.”

Wednesday’s general strike is expected to affect services across the country, from schools and hospitals to public transport.

The Air Traffic Controllers’ union has announced industrial action from 11am until 3pm on 17 May 2017, which is likely to cause disruption to all international and domestic flights.  

So far  99 flights have been re scheduled  a further nine were cancelled  by Greece’s Aegean and Olympic Air.  

Sky Express, announced the rescheduling of 41 domestic flights between Athens and the Greek islands.

Contact your airline or travel company for more information about the status of your flight.

Greece’s two biggest public and private labour unions, GSEE and ADEDY, will go on strike on Wednesday 17 May 2017. Public transport and other public services may be affected.

Protest marches have been scheduled for central Athens in the morning.

Workers are protesting a new deal with Greece’s international creditors that impose a raft of new tax hikes and spending cuts beyond the end of the country’s third bailout in 2018. The measures, which are to be voted on in parliament at midnight Thursday, will include additional pension cuts in 2019 and higher income tax in 2020.