Researchers in Greece staged a 24-hour nationwide strike on Wednesday, protesting chronic understaffing and the lack of stable funding in the country’s research sector.
The sector’s panhellenic federation of employees’ associations, POSEEIID, said it has “repeatedly submitted its positions and proposals” on long-standing structural problems, noting that many remain unresolved while new challenges continue to emerge.
The federation highlighted persistent understaffing in research centers, particularly the shortage of permanent personnel, as well as the absence of stable financial and institutional support, which it said creates ongoing uncertainty for workers and institutions alike.
POSEEIID also criticized the fragmentation of responsibility for research bodies across multiple ministries, along with the lack of a coherent national strategy and continuity in funding. According to the federation, these issues undermine the development of a consistent policy on research, technology, and innovation aligned with societal needs and productive development.
The federation called for substantial improvements in working conditions and pay, arguing this is necessary both to ensure a decent standard of living and to support a sustainable, high-quality public research system.
