GREECE: Metro and city train workers walk off the job over wage cuts causing endless traffic jams in the Greek capital and despair to commuters

Record ID: 341061

  • Title: GREECE: Metro and city train workers walk off the job over wage cuts causing endless traffic jams in the Greek capital and despair to commuters
  • Date: 18th January 2013
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JANUARY 18, 2013) (REUTERS) SYNTAGMA SQUARE IN ATHENS CENTRE, VIEW OF PARLIAMENT IN THE BACKGROUND PEOPLE WALKING UP STEPS TOWARDS PARLIAMENT BUILDING VARIOUS OF SHUTTERED SYNTAGMA METRO STATION EMPTY TRAM STATION ANNOUNCEMENT BOARD AT TRAM STATION INFORMING PUBLIC ON THE 24 HOUR STRIKE (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) COMMUTER KATERINA, 50, SAYING: "We are sympathetic
  • Embargoed: 2nd February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Economic News,Politics,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA2RVIECK64N28VMMRA3CV91FN3
  • Story Text: Striking train operators and subway employees brought the Athens subway and city train to a standstill on Friday (January 18) to protest against further wage cuts under the new public sector wage agreement.
    The transport strikes caused endless lines of traffic jams and forced cash strapped Greeks to take taxis to get to their jobs, walk for kilometres or pile on each other inside the crammed buses. City buses were the only public transport operating.
    Angry commuters said transport workers should take in consideration their fellow citizens and realise that their repetitive strikes cause much distress.

    "We are sympathetic to the people's problems but they must also understand ours. We don't have money for taxis and we cannot go everywhere on foot," said fifty-year-old Katerina who had to walk to work.

    "If working at the metro is of no benefit to them then they should quit and find another job," said another Athens resident who did not wish to give his name.
    But seventy six year old pensioner Mary said the striking workers were left with no other choice.

    "They have their demand and for that reason we keep quiet, we get crammed, we find ways to commute. Now we only have two transport services, the trolley and the bus. It's not pleasant but what can they do," she said.
    The union has threatened to carry rolling strikes if the government does not exempt them from the cuts.
    Strikes and protests have been continuous in the capital since September over the government's reform program, which reduces wages, pensions, benefits and cuts jobs in the public sector.
    The government has said these would be the last painful cuts to incomes, the third in two years, and has vowed to concentrate on plans to create jobs and growth, but Greeks, suffering from high taxes, record unemployment and austerity fatigue, are wary of the government's promises.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register