Taxi strike in Greece today and tomorrow

Taxi owners and drivers are proceeding with new rolling 48-hour strike actions, starting today, Tuesday.

The strikes on January 13 and 14 (Tuesday and Wednesday) were initially announced by SATA for Attica, but they are being extended throughout Greece, as POEATA is also participating.

As SATA announced last night, the 48-hour strike is nationwide.

Taxi drivers requests

“48-Hour Repeated Strike Action Starting Tuesday, January 13, 2026 (From 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday)

On Tuesday, January 13, and every day thereafter at the same time, a gathering with our vehicles will take place at Spyrou Patsi Street & Athens Avenue at 10:00 a.m., followed by a protest march to the Ministry of Transport.

Colleagues,

The government, by consciously choosing to serve business interests, demonstrates on a daily basis its complete indifference toward the taxi sector, with the aim of devaluing it. Despite repeated warnings, well-documented demands, and concrete proposals, it refuses dialogue and avoids providing substantive solutions to the real problems threatening the survival of thousands of professional drivers.

S.A.T.A. MAKES IT CLEAR

WE WILL NOT ACCEPT POLICIES THAT LIBERALISE THE PROFESSION AT THE BEHEST OF MAJOR INTERESTS

WE DEMAND

1. Electromobility – No to a forced transition

We demand an extension of the mandatory transition to electric vehicles until 2035, with a realistic and sustainable transition plan.
Without adequate charging infrastructure, with exorbitant electricity prices and an excessive vehicle acquisition cost, the imposition of electromobility constitutes the economic annihilation of the sector rather than green growth.

2. Clear framework for Taxi services vs. Chauffeured Private Cars (E.I.X.)

We demand a clear, unambiguous distinction between the services provided by taxis and those provided by chauffeured rental cars. With chauffeured private cars, the passenger purchases time. Transport from point A to point B is the exclusive domain of taxis.

We propose a minimum hire fee of €150 plus VAT for chauffeured private cars nationwide, in order to put an end to the distortion of transport services and the deception at the expense of professional taxi drivers.

3. Unfair competition – Multinational impunity

The government turns a blind eye to the unfair competition caused by multinational platforms, undermining the sector and especially radio taxi services. It is unacceptable for Greek professionals to operate under strict rules and oversight, while multinationals act unchecked, siphoning off the market and public revenues without even having a tax base in Greece.

4. Dedicated traffic lanes (bus lanes) – An obvious right

We demand the right for occupied taxis to use dedicated traffic lanes (bus lanes), as is the case in every European country that respects its citizens. Taxis are a means of public transport, and banning them from these lanes worsens congestion, burdens passengers, and harms the environment.

5. Taxation – An end to presumptive, predatory taxation

We demand fair tax treatment and an end to the fiscal exhaustion of the sector. We can no longer withstand further bleeding in a profession already hit by rising fuel, maintenance, and living costs. We demand a tax-free threshold of €12,000 for all.

6. “Patchwork” bill or the Bridge of Arta

For the past two and a half years, the political leadership of the Ministry of Transport has been talking about a patchwork bill that would resolve the problems created by the government itself over the past six years.

S.A.T.A. STATES CLEARLY

We will not passively observe the destruction of our profession.
We turn a deaf ear to the sirens and trolls of the “Truth Group” that mushroom across social media, attempting to poison the climate of unity among owners, drivers, investors, and operators.

The taxi is one. And S.A.T.A.’s demands are the demands of everyone who makes up the taxi family.

If the government continues to ignore our fair demands, our response will be forceful, combative, and full of major surprises.

ALL TO THE STRUGGLE FOR WORK DIGNITY

THE TAXI MUST HAVE A FUTURE

The Announcement of POEIATA

“A few days ago, a meeting was held between the Federation’s leadership and the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Kyranakis, and his associates. We were informed of the provisions the ministry is preparing to legislate concerning the taxi sector.
Unfortunately, there are major and substantive differences between what we heard and the sector’s proposals and demands.

Specifically:

1) Mandatory electrification of taxis in Athens and Thessaloniki from 01/01/2026

The Ministry insists on this obligation, proposing only minimal exemptions.

It forces all taxis to be replaced exclusively with fully electric vehicles.

In a country with virtually no infrastructure, despite a legal obligation since 2021 to install fast chargers, especially at taxi ranks, points of interest, and entry points to the country—nothing has been done to date.

At a time when most European countries have postponed mandatory electrification until after 2035.

In Greece, where the majority of government and public transport vehicles have no such obligation and continue to operate with internal combustion engines.

With vehicles that still lack the required range to meet the daily professional needs of two or even three owners per taxi.

With home charging between shifts being practically impossible due to space and charging time constraints.

With the exclusion of other modern internal combustion vehicles and subsidies granted exclusively to electric vehicles, only for those expiring annually.

An extension of the mandatory requirement is the only solution, until all necessary actions are gradually taken for a smooth transition of the sector to electromobility.

2) Criminal record certificate

The request to revert to the previous general-use criminal record certificate was not accepted; judicial-use certificates remain mandatory, posing a major survival issue for many colleagues.

Owners and drivers with even 30 years of service suddenly cannot renew their special licence. It is truly unbelievable that such a change is imposed so selectively on a single sector.

3) Competition, multinationals, and service poaching

All our requests concerning competition, multinationals, and the hijacking of our work were left unanswered.

Numerous concrete proposals have been submitted to the Ministry to curb service poaching, establish rules for passenger transport, safeguard urban public transport, and improve oversight of all vehicle types and companies operating transport services.

We demand an increase in the minimum fare for chauffeured private cars and equalisation of minimum hire fees on our islands.

We demand action against multinational platforms, including bans and fines for companies offering discounts and violating taxi fare regulations.

4) Presumptive taxation

Although not within the Ministry of Transport’s remit, we reiterate that we will not stop demanding changes.

An owner of half a taxi in a small town pays the same tax as an owner or company with one, two, or more vehicles.

Thousands of taxi operators who do not work themselves are burdened with the same presumptive taxation as those who do.

5) Dedicated bus and taxi lanes

Under the new Highway Code, only electric taxis and those transporting persons with disabilities are legally allowed to use dedicated lanes.

We demand that all hybrid and low-emission licensed taxis be allowed, as well as vehicles demonstrably transporting patients with severe illnesses, vision impairments, or other serious conditions.

Gradual infrastructure adjustments to create adequate pick-up and drop-off areas in city centres and road regulations for safe entry and exit of taxis from dedicated lanes.

Pilot schemes on selected roads where the inclusion of all occupied taxis can gradually be implemented.

Special provisions by OASA and OSETH for taxi access to dedicated lanes during major roadworks or prolonged infrastructure projects.

6) Other issues

Free pre-hire and parking areas for taxis at all airports, ports, and stations nationwide, including resolution of issues with Fraport airports.

Mechanical departments to verify, within a maximum of five years from current licence renewals, the authenticity of all documentation related to special licences. From now on, renewals and new licences will be issued exclusively via gov.gr.

Creation of an electronic registry of drivers and violations.

Financial support for the sector through fuel or consumables subsidies.

Subsidies for taximeters and the option of using a second port.

Inclusion of taxi activity codes in European programmes.

Improvement of legislation governing school taxi routes.

Support for radio taxi services and measures to strengthen their financial viability, particularly through digital applications.

A new, modern regulatory framework for taxi operations.

It is certain that the taxi sector has been subjected to unfair practices by the entire political system since 2011, systematically undermining its operation.

We have long exhausted all margins of patience and dialogue.

This morning, the Federation’s Board of Directors decided on a 48-hour nationwide strike on Tuesday, January 13, and Wednesday, January 14, with local mobilisations and actions. Repeated strikes will follow if our issues are not resolved.

Once the draft bill affecting our sector is announced and reviewed, an extraordinary sector-wide council will be convened with the participation of all associations and radio taxi services nationwide.

The time has come for final decisions and an appropriate response. Nothing will go unanswered. The struggle will continue by all means until we are vindicated.

United and determined, we claim our rights, our work, and our lives.

Πηγή: www.news247.gr