Syntagma Square shut down ahead of protests
Over 10 platoons of riot police and mobile barricades were positioned on and around Syntagma Square on Wednesday as labor unions representing both public and private sector workers ramped up protest efforts in a two-day nationwide strike on Wednesday morning.
The streets leading to Parliament were closed off from 6 a.m., while protest marches were scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at various parts of the city center and to converge on Syntagma Square after noon.
Serving demonstrators who want to attend rallies, public transport will be running for part of the day on Wednesday and Thursday.
The electric railway will run between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9 a.m. onward on Thursday. The metro will be working from 9 a.m. onward on both strike days but will not serve the route between Doukissis Plakentias and Athens International Airport. The tram will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both strike days, while buses and trolleys will be in service from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday
The national railway will halt on the two strike days, there will be no taxis and all flights will be grounded.
Other sectors joining the industrial action include bakeries and petrol stations, as well as customs officials, who will strike through Thursday, affecting food and fuel supplies.
Bank staff and tax inspectors are to strike through Thursday as well. Teachers and doctors will walk off the job on the two strike days and most shops will close. Judges are to hold rolling work stoppages.
