Hourly paid public sector employees announce 24-hour strike for September 17

Hourly paid employees in the government, state health services (OKYPY), and school boards have announced a nationwide 24-hour strike for September 17, 2026. This decision, reached by the unions SEK, PEO, and DEOK, comes in response to the government's July 21 proposal for a new collective agreement for the 2025–2027 period, which effectively offers zero salary increases. Representing over 12,000 workers—including 7,500 government employees, 1,700 from OKYPY, and over 3,000 from school boards—the unions argue that zero growth is unacceptable given the country's current positive economic development.

Union representatives, including George Constantinou of SEK, Stavros Andreou of PEO, and Andreas Antoniou of DEOK, highlighted that current entry-level salaries can be as low as €867, with many long-term employees earning around €1,170 net. They noted that their members have seen only a 1.5% salary increase over the past 16 years. The unions stated that they are prepared to strike unless the government presents an improved offer by the September deadline. The government’s ministerial committee is now facing pressure to return with a new proposal to avoid the scheduled industrial action.