The strike is being called for the coming 28th by public and private sector unions, and the participation of air traffic controllers could paralyze all commercial passenger flights arriving and departing from national airports.

That union indicated that during the 24-hour work stoppage, personnel would only handle certain types of flights, including medical services, search and rescue, humanitarian aid, military flights and emergencies.

In the past, courts have declared illegal the participation of air traffic controllers in general strikes.

The strike will coincide with the second anniversary of the February 28, 2023 disaster in which 57 people were killed in Tempe, northern Greece, in a head-on collision between a freight and passenger trains.

The accident exposed deficiencies in the rail system’s safety equipment and led to the resignation of the transport minister.

However, the official handling of the disaster was criticized, with growing public discontent over delays in the investigation and accusations of a cover-up that the government strongly denies.

As a result, mass protests were held following an appeal by relatives of the victims, many of whom were university students returning to classes after a holiday.

ef/abo/ro/ehl