Thousands of teachers and students marched through central Athens on Wednesday, moving from Propylaea to Syntagma Square...

Thousands of teachers and students marched through central Athens on Wednesday, moving from Propylaea to Syntagma Square outside Parliament to demand higher salaries, affordable housing and more school staff. School pupils, university students, teachers and public-sector employees all joined the march, with parallel demonstrations held in Thessaloniki, Patras and Heraklion. Teachers are pushing for salary increases and permanent appointments to fill thousands of vacant positions. The Greek Primary Teachers' Federation, DOE, held a full 24-hour strike and called for safer school buildings, smaller classes and sufficient state funding. According to DOE, nearly half of teachers earn no more than 1,000 euros a month, with purchasing power down close to 60% compared to previous years. The Federation of Secondary School Teachers, OLME, staged a three-hour work stoppage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and urged local unions to extend it into a full day. OLME pointed to particularly high rent and transport costs for newly appointed and substitute teachers working on islands and in tourist areas, and is demanding housing allowances to offset those expenses. University students are calling for lower rents, higher housing allowances, broader eligibility for state assistance and more places in student residences. The public-sector union confederation ADEDY backed the protests with a nationwide stoppage from 11 a.m., warning that accommodation costs are pushing university studies out of reach for many families. About 3,000 police officers were deployed around the Athens demonstrations. Athens rail operator STASY closed Panepistimio metro station by police order, with trains passing through without stopping. Hospital doctors also joined Wednesday's industrial action, adding further pressure on public services. #Greece #Education #GreekPolitics