GREECE: Workers fill several city blocks in Athens in a protest march to oppose government belt-tightening measures.

Record ID: 341097

  • Title: GREECE: Workers fill several city blocks in Athens in a protest march to oppose government belt-tightening measures.
  • Date: 20th February 2013
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (FEBRUARY 20, 2013) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS MARCHING, SOME WITH RED AND WHITE FLAGS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS SHOUTING AND MARCHING, FOR SEVERAL CITY BLOCKS BANNER LEADING THE MARCH READING (Greek): "Hands off collective labour agreements" YOUNG WOMAN AT HEAD OF MARCH HOLDING THE BANNER CHANTING (Greek): "They are terrorizing us so that we wi
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAADUUEZDW33UJ2GE42KLHTEVAJ
  • Story Text: An anti-austerity march was underway in Athens on Wednesday (February 20) after unions called a 24 hour strike against government cost-cutting that has affected jobs, wages and pensions.
    Workers who support the Communist Party led the first march, with several thousand snaking through the capital to the country's parliament building, shouting slogans such as "resist!" and "they are terrorizing us so that we will yield!".
    "The workers are suffering and they have only one choice, no other, and that is to resist as long as possible otherwise they will find themselves with their backs against the wall, and this has to be avoided," Communist Party Leader Aleka Papariga said at the march.
    Workers of the two main public and private sector trade unions followed with their march as services were disrupted by the strike.
    Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's eight-month-old coalition government has been eager to show it will implement reforms it promised the European Union and International Monetary Fund, which have bailed Athens out twice with over 200 billion euros.
    It has taken a tough line on striking workers, invoking emergency laws twice already this year to order seamen and subway workers back to their jobs after week-long walkouts that paralysed public transport in Athens and risked product shortages on islands.
    Samaras has vowed that there will be no more cuts to wages and pensions, but people are wary after three rounds of austerity measures as well as changes to collective wage and labour agreements that make them more flexible for employers but less so for employees.
    The strike comes after a visit by French President Francois Hollande to show France's support for the efforts of the Greek government but also to recognise the sacrifices of the Greek public.
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