Greece’s air traffic controllers have said they’ll join a nationwide general strike called to demand justice for the victims of the 2023 Tempe rail crash.
According to the Associated Press, the air controllers’ participation in the February 28 strike is expected to ground all commercial passenger flights heading to and from Greek airports.
The strike was called by labor unions representing public and private sector workers.
The air traffic controllers’ union said that only certain types of flights, including medical and search and rescue services, humanitarian aid and military flights and emergencies, will be handles during the 24-hour work stoppage.
In the past, courts have often declared the participation of air traffic controllers in general strikes as illegal.
The strike to coincides with the second anniversary of the rail disaster on February 28, 2023, which 57 people were killed at Tempe, northern Greece, in a head-on collision between a freight train and a passenger train.
Its exposed shortcomings in safety equipment in Greece’s railway system and led to the resignation of the transport minister.
Official handling of the disaster has been heavily criticised, with public anger over the delays in the inquiry and allegations of a cover-up that the government denies.
Mass protests were held last month following a call by the relatives of victims, many of who were university students returning to classes after a public holiday.
