GREECE: Greek public transport workers stage five-hour strike

Record ID: 339833

  • Title: GREECE: Greek public transport workers stage five-hour strike
  • Date: 9th September 2010
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 8, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF QUIET RAILWAY TRAIN STATION PLATFORM VARIOUS OF RAILWAY TRAINS SITTING PARKED ON TRACK SUBWAY STATION ENTRANCE BEING CLOSED BY EMPLOYEES FOR FIVE-HOUR STRIKE, EMPLOYEES LOWERING GATES AS LAST COMMUTERS LEAVE VARIOUS OF TRAM PLATFORM EMPTY OF TRAINS BENCHES AT TRAM STATION EMPTY OF COMMUTERS VARIOUS OF BUS STOPS
  • Embargoed: 24th September 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADH8SXDDKST2HLNOEFBB74DRKH
  • Story Text: Greece's embattled government again comes under pressure as transport workers walk off the job in protest at sell-offs and cost-cutting in the sector.
    Angry workers shut down public transport systems in Athens on Wednesday (September 8), calling for a reversal of the Greek government's tough austerity measures that include planned privatisations and cost-cutting in the transport sector.
    The strike was organised by railway workers, who were backed by subway, tram and bus staff.
    Nikos Koutsoukis, a representative for the railway workers union, said the government measures would force people into poverty and desperation.
    "It's a plan aimed at destroying workers economically, it's a plan aimed at selling off state wealth to ruthless business interests for peanuts," he declared.
    Taxi cabs were out in force to serve commuters, but the five-hour strike did not have a serious impact on travel because most commuters had already reached their destinations by the planned start times of 11am and midday (0800GMT and 0900GMT).
    About 500 workers marched to the finance ministry, carrying a large banner reading, "the railways are not for sale". They were accompanied by two public transport buses.
    Greece unveiled in June plans to sell stakes in the public railway. The privatisation plan is part of an EU-IMF austerity programme, after Greece received a bailout to avoid bankruptcy.
    As part of the plan, the government will sell 49 percent of the loss-making Greek railway company Hellenic Railways Group (O.S.E). The state company has been riddled with a huge debt amounting to 10 billion euros and large staff costs, and is constantly undergoing restructuring. Thousands work for the organisation, which operates domestic and foreign train routes.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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