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Today is the 13^th strike day of 1500 port workers at the biggest Greek port Pieria. They are determined to continue their strike for another 48 hours and so they will leave the port closed for all trade deals. At noon yesterday the Port Workers Confederation of Greece and the Port Workers Union decided to continue the strike for two more days and gave an ultimatum to the government to take the initiative and to freeze the Chinese company COSCO from entering the container storage in Pieria. On Friday minister of economy, competition and shipping met with COSCO representatives and asked for the revision of the deal when it comes to labor subjects and keeping the port as a state property. The Chinese did not show any interest to continue the negotiations.

The syndicate members met with the minister’s advisor and submitted their demands in a written form. Most likely today Minister Louka Katseli will meet representatives of the syndicate but the one remaining fact is that more than 500 containers remain blocked in the port’s storage, for a second week. Some ships even changed their course and preferred to top at Astakos port or in other cities of the Mediterranean.

The financial losses due to the strike reach €6 million until now and about 9000 containers have changed their direction and have been unloaded at other ports. The negotiations with the new government will take place during the following days, because also port traders are protesting against the port workers’ strike.