GREECE: Greek railway workers begin 24-hour strike while truck drivers enter second day of protests over government reforms

Record ID: 338781

  • Title: GREECE: Greek railway workers begin 24-hour strike while truck drivers enter second day of protests over government reforms
  • Date: 15th September 2010
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 14, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF RAILWAY STATION (2 SHOTS) EMPTY TRACKS IN ATHENS RAILWAY STATION VARIOUS OF EMPTY PLATFORMS IN ATHENS RAILWAY STATION (2 SHOTS) MORE OF EMPTY PLATFORM VARIOUS OF STRIKING WORKERS AND SECURITY PERSONNEL AT PLATFORM VARIOUS OF GAS/PETROL STATION OWNERS CARRYING BANNERS OUTSIDE TRANSPORT MINISTRY AT ATHE
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7TESRRJNBB9JOY5DLQL90GEFQ
  • Story Text: Greek railway workers begin 24-hour strike while truck drivers enter second day of protests over government reforms.
    Railway workers kicked off a 24-hour strike on Tuesday (September 14), crippling intercity and international train routes.
    This follows a five-hour walkout staged last week, and a weekend protest by employees over government plans to restructure and partially privatise the railways, which will lead to salary and job cuts.
    As part of the plan, the government will sell 49 percent of the Greek railway company Hellenic Railways Group (O.S.E). The state company has a huge debt amounting to 10 billion euros and large staff costs, and is constantly undergoing restructuring. More than six thousand work for the organisation, which operates domestic and foreign train routes.
    Gas station owners also took to the streets and protested outside the transport ministry at Athens central square.
    They were protesting over fuel prices, and according to President of the Gas Station Owners Federation Michalis Kiousis.
    "The government and transport ministry must as soon as today lift the ceiling (gas price ceiling)," said Kiousis.
    Truck drivers also entered the second day of protests over government plans to liberalise their trade.
    They parked their vehicles on the Athens highway and refused to return to work.
    "We want a meeting with the transport minister who it is heard has said he wants to meet us. I hope we don't have a meeting and he says to us 'I cannot change this bill' because then whatever happens afterwards it's going to be his fault," said Vassilis Sachinidis, one of the truck drivers.
    There were concerns that the strike action would cause fuel shortages, but transport ministry officials said the situation is under control.
    The courts have ruled the railway strike as illegal.
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