GREECE: Unions stage their fifth strike this year over economic austerity, disrupting transport

Record ID: 338726

  • Title: GREECE: Unions stage their fifth strike this year over economic austerity, disrupting transport
  • Date: 30th June 2010
  • Summary: LEFT WING NEWSPAPERS WITH HEADLINES ABOUT STRIKE
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6Z6TDYQ02LGE65L47Z5HQN2XO
  • Story Text: Greece's main unions staged their fifth strike this year on Tuesday (June 28) over economic austerity, including radical pension reforms recently announced by the government.
    Forty-eight two-way domestic flights to the Greek islands were cancelled after telecommunications employees at small island airports in Greece struck, but international flights were not affected at Athens International Airport as air traffic controllers stayed on the job in respect of the tourist season.
    "It's inconvenient, we knew that we came here there was a situation economically so it's a bit of a risk to take. It's inconvenient; that's the way it goes, rather not have an inconvenience but it's okay," said Australian tourist Clayton Lewis, whose flight to Mykonos was cancelled.
    Government and public offices, and some public schools and banks remained shut in the walkout by public and private sector unions.
    Local transport such as buses, the subway and tram lines staged work stoppages, cancelling the morning and afternoon schedules.
    Two striking seamen's unions tried to block tourists from entering the port of Piraeus to board ships for the islands.
    The strikers were stopped from entering the port by police after their strike was ruled illegal by the courts, but the protesters stood outside the port and hindered tourists from reaching the ships.
    Parliament begins discussion on the pension reform bill, which raises the retirement age, cuts benefits and curtails early pensions, this week before it comes to a vote. Despite opposition from some governing party deputies and opposition members, the government has a majority with 157 seats in the 300-seat parliament and should be able to pass the reforms.
    Greece has introduced several austerity measures that affect wages and pensions, designed by the EU and the IMF in exchange for a rescue loan.
    The protests have caused inconvenience for tourists and commuters after transport schedules have been disrupted.
    The last large protest was during a strike on May 5, where some 50 thousand people took to the streets and protests turned violent, killing three people in a fire-bombing of an Athens bank.
    The strikes are a test of the government's resolve to implement the measures, but so far it has not bowed to union pressure.
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