"We are returning to medieval conditions for workers" says protester as Greeks strike over government reform plans

Record ID: 1434768

  • Title: "We are returning to medieval conditions for workers" says protester as Greeks strike over government reform plans
  • Date: 2nd October 2019
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (OCTOBER 2, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STRIKING WORKERS FROM VARIOUS UNIONS MARCHING THROUGH THE STREETS OF ATHENS PAST PARLIAMENT CHANTING SLOGANS AND HOLDING BANNERS PROTESTERS OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT BUILDING SHOUTING: (Greek) "WE CANNOT LIVE ON 400 EUROS" PROTESTERS OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT WITH A LARGE SIGN READING: (Greek) "HANDS OFF THE UNIONS" VARIOUS OF THE PROTESTERS OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT WITH BANNERS (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) STRIKING SUBWAY EMPLOYEE, MICHALIS AGELINAS SAYING: "They cannot mess with the unions, the unions have freedoms that have been fought for and won for years now. These are things (reforms) that have failed around the world." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) STRIKING TEACHER, SOFIA SKLAVENITI, SAYING: "With the measures that are in the bill we are returning to medieval conditions for workers, such as the abolition of collective labour agreements, which will function under the rules of the businessmen in line with competitiveness." PROTESTERS STANDING OUTSIDE THE ATHENS ACADEMY STATUE OF MYTHOLOGICAL GODDESS ATHENA ON ATHENS ACADEMY WITH PROTESTERS FLAGS BELOW PIRAEUS, GREECE (OCTOBER 2, 2019) (REUTERS) FERRIES ANCHORED AT PORT AS PART OF STRIKE VARIOUS OF STRIKING SEAMEN ON PLATFORM OF FERRY, LARGE BANNER READING: "HANDS OFF THE RIGHT TO STRIKE" VARIOUS OF TRAVELLER WITH HER BAG SITTING AT DOCK IN FRONT OF ANCHORED FERRIES TRAVELLERS SITTING AT PORT WITH THEIR LUGGAGE ATHENS, GREECE (OCTOBER 2, 2019) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SUBWAY STATION, ENTRANCE EMPTY SHUTTERS CLOSED ON ENTRANCE TO SUBWAY STATION SIGN ON SHUTTERS ANNOUNCING STRIKE
  • Embargoed: 16th October 2019 10:40
  • Keywords: Greece strike reforms labour Mitsotakis crisis
  • Location: ATHENS AND PIRAEUS, GREECE
  • City: ATHENS AND PIRAEUS, GREECE
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Budget/Taxation/Revenue,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001AZEN6TJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Greek private sector workers walked off the job on Wednesday (October 2) to protest against labour reforms planned by the new conservative government which they say will weaken unions and curb their right to strike.
    In the second such walkout in a week, thousands of workers marched through the streets with banners reading, "Hands off the unions".
    Ships stayed docked at port and public transport was disrupted as part of the 24-hour strike.
    Public sector workers staged a similar strike against labour reforms last week, and stopped work for a few hours on Wednesday.
    Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government plans to change some ground rules on how strikes can be declared, allow some changes to collective wage pacts and set up a registry for unions.
    The government, elected in July on pledges to increase growth, has said the proposals were designed to make decision-making on industrial action more inclusive.
    Unionists believe the reforms will not help to reduce unemployment, which at about 17 percent is the highest in the euro zone, or bring the amount of economic growth the government has promised. The bill is expected to be voted on this month.
    (Production: Vassilis Triandafyllou, Vassilis Stoyannis, Deborah Kyvrikosaios)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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