GREECE: Tourists enjoying the sun at the peak of the Greek holiday season breathe a sigh of relief after taxi drivers vote to end a three-week strike against economic reforms

Record ID: 338653

  • Title: GREECE: Tourists enjoying the sun at the peak of the Greek holiday season breathe a sigh of relief after taxi drivers vote to end a three-week strike against economic reforms
  • Date: 6th August 2011
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (AUGUST 5, 2011) (REUTERS) TAXI DRIVERS AND YELLOW TAXIS ON THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE ATHENS TAXI DRIVERS' ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS DRIVERS AMONGST THE TAXIS DRIVERS IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING SIGN READING 'Confederation of taxi drivers/ we give our blood for fellow citizens not for Ragkouzis (minister of transport) (Greek) ' DRIVERS TALKING TO EACH OTH
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece, Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Politics,Travel / Tourism
  • Reuters ID: LVA1PYFQIL6YE9R0Q4WG5TETCCS7
  • Story Text: Greek taxi drivers announced on Friday (August 5) a one month suspension of their strike against the liberalisation of the sector as part of a raft of government reforms to get the country out of debt.
    "We have decided by majority to postpone our strike until September 5, that is for a month," the taxi drivers' federation said in a written press release.
    "We continue the talks and we hope that by then we will finally have the (Transport) Minister's proposals" it added.
    The strike was in protest against government reforms to open up their sector to competition as part of government reforms to get the country out of the debt crisis and one of the conditions of the bailout.
    During the strike which began on July 18 taxi drivers had blocked parts of the city including bridges, highways, ports and airports over several days to demand the government rescind the liberalization law. There were clashes at Iraklion airport in Crete between drivers and police in front of tourists struggling to get to the airport.
    After speaking to taxi drivers' representatives across the country the head of the taxi federation, Thimios Lyberopoulos, thanked people for their patience. But he added that the temporary strike does not mean that they will let up on their demands.
    "We have decided by a majority of 13 to 6 votes to temporarily suspend the strike until a maximum deadline of September 5. During this period we will monitor any decision made without consulting with us should the ministry fail to invite us to talks on the bill they are preparing. We will keep citizens informed with pamphlets. We thank them for the patience they showed, for putting up with the pressure of not finding taxis. We thank the people because they really gave us their support" he told media.
    The actions of striking taxi drivers drew criticism from tourism industry officials and the Greek government, who said these protests at the peak of the tourist season were marring the country's image and hurting the tourism sector which accounts for roughly a fifth of GDP.
    Though some tourists were relieved to hear the strike had ended, many were very understanding and said they used alternative transport.
    "Fantastic! I am hopeful that the taxi drivers are happy and I think it is great for tourism. We're happy. As Greek Americans visiting Athens, its a great thing (q: did the strike disrupt your holidays?) Slightly yes, slightly. It made it slightly difficult to get around town but we managed. But now that the taxis are back its going to make life a lot easier" said Phil, a Greek American tourist.
    "We also had a car so, yes, you can also go by metro, or just walk it is not so far" said a Dutch tourist.
    "We were in the island, in Iraklio, and the strike was there too and we did not mind at all" added a French Canadian.
    The strikeas European shares plunge to 14-month lows on Friday following a global sell-off on growing concerns the U.S. economy could be heading towards another recession and on jitters Italy and Spain could be the next casualty of the euro zone debt crisis.
    In a letter to the European Commission President, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said the euro zone must take immediate action to overcome scepticism over its ability to respond to the spreading debt crisis.
    "Recent developments mainly reflect an increasing scepticism about the systemic capacity of the euro area to respond to the ongoing crisis," Papandreou wrote in the letter to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
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