Athens Taxi Strike Halts Services Until Evening

The news in Greek

1. απεργία  (f.)
   μαζική αποχή από την εργασία με σκοπό την διεκδίκηση δικαιωμάτων. ↩︎
2. μεσάνυχτα  (n.)
   το σημείο του χρόνου που η μέρα τελειώνει και ξεκινά η επόμενη. ↩︎
3. οδηγός  (m.)
   το άτομο που οδηγά ένα όχημα. ↩︎
4. συνδικάτο  (n.)
   οργάνωση εργαζομένων για την προστασία των δικαιωμάτων τους. ↩︎
5. διαμαρτυρία  (f.)
   έκφραση δυσαρέσκειας ή αντίθεσης σε κάτι. ↩︎
6. υπερασπίζω
   προστατεύω ή στηρίζω κάτι ή κάποιον. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What were the taxi drivers discussing during their meeting?

Question 2: Who announced that the protests would continue?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
απεργία  (f.)	strike
μεσάνυχτα  (n.)	midnight
οδηγός  (m.)	driver
συνδικάτο  (n.)	union
διαμαρτυρία  (f.)	protest
υπερασπίζω	defend

Read the full story

On Monday, 22nd September 2025, residents and visitors in Athens experienced significant disruptions due to an 18-hour taxi strike, orchestrated by the Athens Taxi Drivers’ Union (SATA). Beginning at midnight and lasting until 6:00 PM, this strike affected the entire area of Attica, ceasing all taxi operations during the day.

The strike was organised to coincide with an emergency general meeting scheduled for 10:00 AM at the Peristeri Exhibition Centre, allowing union members to gather and address their shared concerns regarding the future of their profession. Among the primary issues cited by SATA is what they regard as the “uncontrolled entry of large private interests” into the public transportation sector, a development they claim is proceeding with government approval.

The union raised serious concerns about their livelihood and the sustainability of taxi driving as a profession. They argue that the recent government decision permitting urban transportation by private cars with drivers potentially violates existing legal frameworks that limit these services exclusively to licensed taxis. SATA members assert that this regulatory change could threaten the economic stability of thousands of families reliant on this trade.

SATA’s president, Thymios Lymberopoulos, voiced strong opposition during a press briefing, describing the developments as a direct threat to the taxi industry. He criticised government support for these changes, insisting, “We must defend our work and the service we offer to society.” He further warned of continuous protests, employing different methods to sustain pressure on policymakers.

In response to these legislative changes, SATA announced plans to legally challenge the recent joint ministerial decision at Greece’s supreme administrative court, the Council of State. The union is urging the rescension of this decision, arguing that it compromises the legal structure governing urban transport in Greece.

The taxi strike brought to light broader concerns within the industry, including mandatory electrification, tax burdens, and perceived “piracy” of transport services by non-traditional operators. The union claims that the onslaught of multinational corporations poses an existential threat, which imperils their role in public transport.

While Monday’s strike ended in the evening, it served as a prelude to potentially more sustained actions. The union emphasised the need for unity and decisive action among members to protect their economic interests and ensure the continuity of traditional taxi services in Athens.

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