According to the Hotel Athens Melia Employees Committee in early December 2021 they were informed by the Hotel Manager of imminent layoffs, despite the fact that all employees are part of the "Syn-ergasia" programme which explicitly protects employees from layoffs. The Management subsequently fired two workers and is trying to convince others to leave citing a drop in business. Syn-ergasia is a special Pandemic-era state support programme that covers 60% of the wage and insurance contributions of hotel workers. A number of hotel unions from other large hotels in Athens, including the Athens Marriott Employees Union, have issued declarations of support to the strikers.