Adriatic Ferry Strike Causes Ongoing Disruption

The news in Greek

1. απεργία  (f.)
   Σταμάτημα της εργασίας από εργαζομένους για να εκφράσουν διαμαρτυρία ή να ζητήσουν κάτι. ↩︎
2. ναυτικός  (m.)
   Άτομο που εργάζεται στη θάλασσα, συνήθως ως μέλος πληρώματος πλοίου. ↩︎
3. δυσαρεστημένος
   Αυτός που δεν είναι ικανοποιημένος, που έχει παράπονα. ↩︎
4. εταιρεία  (f.)
   Οργανισμός που παρέχει προϊόντα ή υπηρεσίες με στόχο το κέρδος. ↩︎
5. ένταση  (f.)
   Κατάσταση ανησυχίας ή συγκρούσεων ανάμεσα σε ανθρώπους. ↩︎
6. δικαίωμα  (n.)
   Ό,τι δικαιούνται να έχουν ή να απολαύσουν οι άνθρωποι. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Why are the ferries in Patras not operating?

Question 2: What are the sailors unhappy about?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
απεργία  (f.)	strike
ναυτικός  (m.)	sailor
δυσαρεστημένος	dissatisfied
εταιρεία  (f.)	company
ένταση  (f.)	tension
δικαίωμα  (n.)	rights

Read the full story

The ongoing strike by the Panhellenic Union of Merchant Marine Sailors (PENEN) has left passenger ferries on the Greece-Italy route immobilised for a third day at the Port of Patras, causing significant disruption to travel plans.

PENEN declared a new 24-hour strike following the expiry of a previous strike, a decision made in response to what they describe as the inflexibility and refusal by the Hellenic Passenger Shipping Association (SEEN) to address their grievances. The union is protesting a lack of resolution on various demands, igniting a renewed escalation of the industrial action.

SEEN, representing Greek passenger shipping businesses, has expressed strong objections to the strikes, labelling them illegal following a ruling from Greek courts. SEEN argues that these strikes hold hundreds of passengers “hostage” and disrupt the stability of institutional processes. They accuse PENEN of disregarding legal judgments and emphasize that measures are being taken with appropriate authorities to find a resolution.

This dispute comes despite an agreement by the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation, which PENEN is part of, that grants a 5% wage increase starting in 2025, on top of the 11% rises agreed in recent years. SEEN criticises PENEN’s actions as arbitrary and detrimental to the Greek economy and tourism competitiveness.

The standoff highlights the ongoing tensions between unionised workers and shipping companies in Greece, underscoring broader issues of labour rights and economic impacts in the maritime sector.

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