Motor Oil Refinery Workers in Greece on Strike after Fatal Explosion

Images via the Communist Party of Greece (KKE)

Various Sources

Workers at the Motor Oil refinery in Greece have gone on strike after a fatal explosion during maintenance killed two workers, prompting unions to denounce unsafe conditions and demand stronger protections.

The Energy Workers' Union of Attica, Boeotia, Evia and Corinthia called the strike for Wednesday, October 14 following the deadly explosion during scheduled shutdown maintenance at the Motor refinery. The blast killed two workers employed by contracting companies and triggered widespread anger among refinery staff.

The union described the deaths as another employer crime, noting that the company’s practices have created dangerous working conditions.

The KKE reports that "sectoral Energy Workers’ Union calls on workers to join the strike, rally around its ranks, and form committees in their workplaces. They must demand effective health and safety measures, humane working hours, and collective bargaining agreements. The union demands a full investigation into the employer crime, without any cover-up, and that all those responsible be held accountable."

The union cites a pattern of serious safety failures and escalating risks:

• Intensified workloads and 12‑hour shifts during shutdown operation.

• Inadequate safety measures and insufficient maintenance of equipment, allegedly to avoid production losses.

• Pressure to meet deadlines, which workers say leads to shortcuts and unsafe practices.

They also say the facility has a history of accidents with a worker killed and three burned in January 2020 and nine workers injured in September 2024.

The union reports that management refused entry to elected representatives who tried to visit the site after the explosion. They say the company is prioritizing profits over safety, with the refinery’s “staggering” profits come from the “blood and sweat” of both permanent and subcontracted workers.

The union has issued a set of demands aimed at improving safety and working conditions:

• Full implementation of safety measures during shutdown operations, with responsibility shared by the state and employers.

• Collective labor agreements for contractor employees, including substantial wage increases.

• Decent working schedules:

• 7‑hour day

• 5‑day week

• 35‑hour week

• Paid overtime

• Guaranteed Sundays off

• Protection of trade union rights and unrestricted access for union representatives.

• Strengthening the Labour Inspectorate and increasing workplace inspections.

The union says the strike is part of a larger struggle over labor rights, safety standards, and the treatment of subcontracted workers in Greece’s energy sector. It also calls on the government to conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable rather than shifting blame to lower‑level workers.

The KKE notes that "strike is taking place amid employer pressure and intimidation. In recent days, the refinery has been surrounded by police forces.

For more photos from the strike see: Workers at the “Motor Oil” refinery are on strike