ATHENS – During its annual congress on Sunday, the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE), which represents private sector employee unions, announced a 24-hour strike on Thursday, March 16th. They will also hold a rally at Syntagma Square at 11:00 am the same day with the slogan “All Lives Matter.”

In a statement released on Sunday, GSEE declared that “the thorough investigation and assignment of accountability, as well as the implementation of measures to prevent loss of human lives, is a key demand by society and will be the focus of our strike action.” The organization called for the responsibility of governments and the systematic undermining of railroad infrastructure to be addressed, highlighting the loss of lives of employees in work accidents over the years.

The federation believes that there are three fundamental questions that must be answered directly: “How did we get to this tragedy? Who is responsible? How can we prevent it from happening again?” They emphasized that the train is a means of transportation that “mostly serves workers, young people, the poor, and people with low or non-existent income,” and that the state has an obligation to guarantee safety in travel and high-quality service.

As the GSEE concludes its four-day annual congress, it is clear that they are committed to taking action to address the systemic issues that have caused the loss of lives in the workplace. The strike planned for Thursday and the rally at Syntagma Square are powerful demonstrations of their resolve to hold the government accountable and ensure the safety and protection of all workers in Greece.