Today’s protests

The cycle of rallies and marches in Thessaloniki begins today.

At 8.30am, healthcare workers will gather at Ippokrateio Hospital as part of their ‘Caravan to Save Public Healthcare’. Hospital workers will march through the city, passing other hospitals before ending at the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace.

At 11am, workers and paramedics from the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAB) will gather outside the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, accompanied by ambulances.

In the afternoon, at 6pm, members of the security and emergency services, including firefighters, will gather at the White Tower before holding a march.

Saturday’s protests

The largest demonstrations are expected on Saturday, the opening day of the TIF.

At 5pm, farmers will gather at HANTH Square. A rally organised by the Association of Relatives of Tempi Victims is also planned at the same location.

At the same time, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Thessaloniki Workers’ Centre (EKTH) have called for a rally at the Venizelos statue, followed by a march towards the university.

‘This year’s presence of GSEE at the TIF comes at a time when workers’ daily lives continue to be squeezed by the rising cost of living, declining purchasing power, housing and energy costs, as well as the intensification of work,’ the confederation said in a statement.

Its demands include:

  • collective agreements that protect workers
  • working hours that do not deprive people of their lives
  • a labour market offering rights, security, dignity and prospects

PAME has also announced rallies at Aristotelous Square and HANTH Square, demanding:

  • ‘Greece out of the war. Not a single euro for NATO’s war plans and slaughterhouses!’
  • increases in wages and pensions and collective bargaining agreements
  • restoration of the 13th and 14th salaries in the public sector and the 13th and 14th pensions
  • measures against the rising cost of living, including a tax-free threshold of €12,000, increased for each child
  • abolition of VAT on essential consumer goods
  • exclusively public and free healthcare and education
  • health and safety measures in the workplace

Finally, parties and organisations of the extra-parliamentary left, collectives, students and people from the broader anti-authoritarian movement are expected to gather at Kamara and march towards the university.

Traffic restrictions

The Thessaloniki Traffic Police Directorate has announced a series of measures for the city centre, with restrictions on stopping and parking already in effect. From 3pm on Saturday, the historic centre will gradually be closed to vehicles, depending on the course of the demonstrations.

Traffic will be halted on major roads including Stratou and Nikis avenues, 3rd September Street, Vasilissis Olgas Avenue, Vasileos Georgiou Avenue, Kountouriotis Street, Karamanlis Avenue, Egnatia Street, Ethnikis Amynis Street, Tsimiski Street, Agiou Dimitriou Street, Agias Sofias Street, Pavlou Mela Street, Eleftheriou Venizelou Street and Manoli Andronikou Street.

Traffic will be diverted to alternative routes, while traffic police officers will be deployed across the city and stationed at key junctions.

Changes to Metro services

Due to the demonstrations, eight Thessaloniki Metro stations will temporarily close from 3pm on Saturday:

  • New Railway Station
  • Dimokratias
  • Venizelou
  • Agias Sofias
  • Sintrivani
  • Panepistimio
  • Papafi
  • Efklidi

All other stations will continue to operate normally. The reopening of the eight stations will depend on the course of the demonstrations.

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