Tourism workers demonstrate in Syntagma, central Athens

People working in the tourism industry have yet again been demonstrating in the heart of the capital, while at the same time disrupting the tourists entering and exiting central hotels by standing in front of their main entrances, as a sign of disapproval of the government’s latest measures, which are affecting them.

Their fellow workers in Thessaloniki are following suit with similar mobilisations.

Both in Athens and in the northern city of Thessaloniki, employees distributed leaflets which explained their reasons of demonstration to passers-by and tourists. 

Government officials have asked to meet with the protesters and discuss their demands before the latter irreversibly hurt the already suffering tourism industry, which was dealt a major blow because of the Athens riots not long ago. 

The present protests concern the insurance rights of sector employees and retaining the unemployment fee which all those who find themselves out of a job after each year’s high season ends have been receiving.

The relevant Federation announced that they will move forward with further strikes depending on the decisions the Employment and Social Security ministry will make.

Demonstrators had the full support of left-wing group PAME, members of which also participated both in the mobilizations and in the march that took place in Athens earlier on Tuesday.