- Title: GREECE: Truck drivers on strike against plans to open up their sector
- Date: 27th July 2010
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 26 2010) (REUTERS) ATHENS NATIONAL HIGHWAY WITH TRUCKS PARKED IN RIGHT-HAND LANE / TRAFFIC IN THREE OTHER LANES CRAWLING MORE OF TRUCKS PARKED AT THE SIDE OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY AS SEEN FROM ABOVE VARIOUS OF TRUCKS AT SIDE OF HIGHWAY CAUSING TRAFFIC TO SLOW SIGN IN GREEK READING "INDEFINITE STRIKE" TRUCK WITH SIGN READING "INDEFINITE STRIKE" (SO
- Embargoed: 11th August 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Employment
- Reuters ID: LVAADJRIUKSJIKBMWOQIIGN1PIL3
- Story Text: Thousands of Greek truck drivers went on strike on Monday (July 26) to protest against plans to open up their sector, in a further show of resistance to reforms as EU/IMF officials started a two-week inspection visit.
Drivers parked their trucks on the side of roads across the country and unions said they would stay there for several days, in a move expected to lead to fuel shortages. Queues of worried holiday-makers have formed at some Athens gas stations.
Greece is lagging at the bottom of international competitiveness indices and has to open up restricted professions such as truck drivers as part of reforms required by the EU and the IMF under a 110 billion euro bailout plan.
Greece is struggling with a debt crisis and becoming more competitive is crucial for its 240 billion euro economy. But combative Greek unions used to a state-driven economy over many decades oppose such reforms.
Unions, who argue drivers have paid up to 200,000-400,00 euros for a licence in the closely regulated sector, say they will lose out with the plan to change the system over 3 years so that licences cover only administrative costs.
"I want to send the government a message that they should take us seriously. All this time we were negotiating, we agreed to what was proposed to us and they fooled us. I find what they are doing unethical, they want to destroy 200,000 people for the profit of big companies," president of a crane drivers' union, Vassilis Sachinidis said.
The government will submit to parliament the draft bill reforming the sector this week. The sector is one of the most restricted in Greece, with no new licences issued for years. Some economists have said opening up the sector could lower business costs and boost GDP by 1 percentage points each year.
Truck drivers' strikes have in the past led to fuel shortages and gas station owners said it would be no different this time.
"If this situation continues and it remains the same tomorrow morning, more than half of the gas stations in the main cities will be out of unleaded gas," said gas station owner Dimitris Makrivelios.
The Socialist government has managed to pass through controversial reforms such as an overhaul of the pension system and has cut its budget deficit but most Greeks oppose the measures and strikes are almost daily. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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