Taxi drivers in Athens and Thessaloniki are continuing their three-day strike, which began on Tuesday and is set to conclude on Friday morning. The drivers are scheduled to gather at 10:30 AM outside the SATA offices on Marni Street, from where they will march to the Maximos Mansion.
Strike Actions and Incidents
The second day of the strike was marked by a motorcade that headed towards “Eleftherios Venizelos” Airport. Tensions arose when demonstrators identified a colleague accused of being a strikebreaker. The strikers surrounded the vehicle, removed the taxi’s roof sign, and in an attempt to escape, the driver ran over a striker, who required first aid. The driver was subsequently arrested under the flagrante delicto procedure.
Thymios Lymperopoulos, president of SATA, warned that the drivers are determined to continue their “marathon” of mobilizations, even during the tourist season, if their demands are not met.
Key Demands of the Sector
The main demands of the taxi sector are:
- Extension of the mandatory transition to electric vehicles: Currently, taxis being replaced from 2026 onwards must be electric. Drivers are requesting an extension until 2035, arguing that the cost is prohibitive.
- Immediate withdrawal of Article 52: This article, part of a pending bill, is claimed by SATA to transfer taxi transport work to private vehicles and favor rented private vehicles with drivers.
- Right to use bus lanes: Taxi drivers argue that as public utility vehicles, taxis should have access to bus lanes to provide faster service to citizens.
The drivers emphasize that taxis are public transport vehicles and should have access to these lanes for faster service to citizens.
Broader Context of Protests
The ongoing strike by taxi drivers is part of a broader wave of protests. On Friday, theater workers are also expected to strike, demanding collective agreements.
Other recent news highlights include a hand grenade attack in Korydallos, the imprisonment of the “Violanta” owner, and the opening of tax audits for e-wallets and foreign banks by the AADE.
The current situation underscores significant discontent across various sectors in Greece, with workers and professionals demanding better conditions and fair treatment from the government.
Source: https://www.reader.gr/ellada/horis-taxi-athina-kai-thessaloniki-synehizetai-i-apergia-me-sygkentrosi-sto-maximoy/635939
