GREECE: Thousands march in Athens in support of subway workers who were forced back to work after a nine day strike

Record ID: 341072

  • Title: GREECE: Thousands march in Athens in support of subway workers who were forced back to work after a nine day strike
  • Date: 26th January 2013
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JANUARY 26 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED IN DOWNTOWN ATHENS LISTENING TO UNION REPRESENTATIVE UNION REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKING TO GATHERED CROWD VARIOUS OF WORKERS DEMONSTRATING PROTESTERS HOLDING FLAGS BEHIND BANNER READING (Greek) "Everyone out in the streets. Revolt against the government's measures" MORE OF PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Greek)
  • Embargoed: 10th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Politics,Travel / Tourism,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA1H88O847NDRXQXC7AG1V0S6PW
  • Story Text: Various workers groups joined together on the streets of Athens on Saturday (January 26) in a show of solidarity with subway employees who were forced back to work after a nine-day walkout that paralysed public transport in Athens.
    The subway workers protesting wage cuts were served orders to return to work on Friday (January 25) or face jail.
    It was the first time the government has invoked such legislation since it took power in June.
    Under the emergency law invoked, which is meant to be used in times of war, natural disaster or risks to public health, workers can be arrested and jailed for up to five years.
    The protesters, carrying banners and communist party-affiliated union flags, marched in the Greek capital on Saturday, shouting slogans against the government's action.
    President of the subway workers' union Antonis Stamatopoulos said the order united the city's transport workers.
    "With this draft that they made (the government) the only thing they achieved was uniting us. Later today all the transport unions have a meeting to coordinate our battle. All the people stand by our side," said Stamatopoulos.
    Other transport unions held strikes in solidarity with subway workers on Friday, leaving Athens without bus, tram, trolleybus or rail services, and causing gridlock across the city.
    Traffic ground to a halt in the capital, fuelling public anger against the strike, which affected more than a million commuters in a city of 5 million people.
    Despite the traffic chaos, Athens resident Filio Diamanti said she sympathised with the workers.
    "We support the struggle of the public transport workers. We are against the draft orders because they are an attack towards our constitutional right to strike," said 52-year-old unemployed resident Filio Diamanti.
    Subway employees oppose being included in a unified wage scheme for public sector workers, drawn up under an austerity programme that would slash their salaries.
    The showdown had turned into the latest test for Greece's fragile three-party ruling coalition as it faces down unions to try to implement austerity measures demanded by foreign lenders as the price for bailout funds.
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