From a travel service we subscribe to:
Beginning on Monday, September 26th, public transportation workers of Greece are staging a strike in Athens to protest austerity measures taken against the nation. The European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are forcing Greece to enact austerity measures to avoid default as a nation. The economic situation in Greece has become increasingly dire over the past few years and these measures are a last resort to prevent a total economic collapse. Although the economic reforms are seen by the EU and IMF to be necessary, they have been extremely unpopular amongst Greeks. There have been many rallies in recent months to protest these changes.
The strikes will begin with the bus and trolley drivers on September 26th, followed by the taxi drivers on September 27th and the air traffic controllers on September 28th. The taxi driver strike has potential to be the most disrupting to travelers. Their plan is to block roads to ports and airports causing significant traffic throughout Athens. Flight delays and cancellations can be expected next Wednesday once the air traffic controllers commence their strike.
Travelers are advised to monitor their flights closely for changes and allow extra time to get to the airport. Avoid protests, if possible. The threat of violence is minimal, but security will be heightened which can cause tense situations. If you have an appointment or business meeting, expect traffic delays and call to confirm that the meeting location is accessible.
Strikes in Greece to Disrupt Travel
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