Greek sailors have gone on a 24-hour strike, wreaking havoc on traffic between the mainland and many tourist island destinations to back their demand for a wage hike.
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No ships sailed to and from dozens of islands on Monday, stranding thousands of visitors. Islands without airports were effectively cut off.
The high summer season was still going strong, though by now most of the tourists are Greeks who were due to return home and to work on Monday.
Many, however, returned a day earlier than planned having been informed that the strike was imminent, and the shipping companies did not sell tickets for Monday.
The sailing union (PNO) went on strike immediately after pay talks with shipping companies collapsed on Sunday in order to have a greater impact with as many people as possible being affected by the stoppage.
The PNO is demanding a 5-per cent raise, while the companies have offered 1 per cent.
Australian Associated Press
