GREECE: Greece's labour unions stage a general strike in protests at the government's 2012 budget and austerity measures

Record ID: 340613

  • Title: GREECE: Greece's labour unions stage a general strike in protests at the government's 2012 budget and austerity measures
  • Date: 2nd December 2011
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (DECEMBER 1, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SYNTAGMA SQUARE, PARLIAMENT IN BACKGROUND PEOPLE WALKING IN SYNTAGMA SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEE DIMITRIS PAPASTATHIS, SAYING: "Unfortunately, my opinion is that they happen so often, almost on a daily basis, that they have lost their meaning. All they do is to make it hard for people to do thei
  • Embargoed: 17th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece, Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACI7ZHVR2LBAMGO8ZYPO5BJQJ6
  • Story Text: Greece's main labour unions on Thursday (December 1) held the first general strike since the country's new coalition government was appointed last month.
    The unions, which represent over half of Greece's four million-strong workforce, called the general strike to protest against new austerity measures that are expected to heap more misery on Greeks already reeling from waves of salary cuts, layoffs and tax hikes.
    But on Thursday, some Greeks appeared to be losing patience with the repeated walkouts.
    "Unfortunately, my opinion is that they happen so often, almost on a daily basis, that they have lost their meaning. All they do is to make it hard for people to do their jobs. They could take place without bringing everything to a halt," said 31-year-old private sector worker Dimitris Papastathis.
    Thursday's 24-hour strike - backed by two umbrella private and public sector unions - is the latest in a long line of stoppages this year that have added to the debt-choked country's troubles.
    Some Greeks say strike action is no longer effective.
    "Strikes have completely lost their meaning. One day, all the nations of Europe will rise up and create havoc. Meanwhile, on a local level, we are just passing the time,"
    said 52-year-old Vasilis Papadopoulos.
    Ships docked at Piraeus port, the country's largest, in preparation for the strike while trains, buses and trams halted morning services.
    Rubbish collectors, doctors, journalists and bank employees were among others that walked off the job. Many schools are expected to remain closed as elementary and high school teachers took part in the strike. Rallies and marches are also due to be held during the day.
    The strike is the first such test for new technocrat Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, who has had little time to celebrate after European leaders this week agreed to approve an eight billion euro tranche of aid to prevent Greece from going bankrupt.
    The country was due to have run out of funds by mid-December without the financial aid.
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