GREECE: Headaches for Greek commuters as crippling strike shuts transport and public services

Record ID: 341475

  • Title: GREECE: Headaches for Greek commuters as crippling strike shuts transport and public services
  • Date: 11th May 2006
  • Summary: (BN10) ATHENS, GREECE (MAY 10 2006) (REUTERS) TOP VIEW OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS MARCHING THROUGH STREETS DURING STRIKE VARIOUS OF MARCHERS WITH BANNERS DEMANDING BETTER PAY, JOB SECURITY, BETTER CONDITIONS (4 SHOTS) EFFIGY AT FRONT OF MARCH OF GRIM REAPER SYMBOLIZING DIALOGUE WITH GOVERNMENT IS DEAD VARIOUS: MORE OF MARCH BY STRIKING WORKERS (4 SHOTS) WORKERS BURNING EFFI
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Employment,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA34OVCTQ5K20IF7PNKCKPMKEEI
  • Story Text: Greece was once again crippled by a strike called by the country's public sector union on Wednesday (May 10) causing headaches for commuters and sending people's daily schedules into disarray.
    Traffic snarls congested streets in the capital as transport services shut down, while banks and public services closed their doors to business, in the latest labour unrest over wages and social security that has been ongoing for months.
    Striking union member George Skadiotis said: "This is a response to government policies that will make our children cheap labour for employers."
    Phone and utility companies, and hospitals were working on skeleton staff, while the state's national airline carrier Olympic Airways cancelled 100 flights, although other airlines were functioning regularly.
    As the tourist season kicks off, travellers toting baggage could be seen chasing after taxi cabs to take them to their hotels.
    The issues are workers dissatisfaction over 2006 government wage rises that fall below the rate of inflation, and concerns over social security reforms, as a national debate is set to begin in parliament on the social security system.
    Greece's pension system has accumulated huge debts as the government strives to lower its budget deficit. Some 50 percent of the government budget is spent on pensions and salaries and previous attempts to reform the system has been met with defiance by unions.
    Greece is determined to bring its budget deficit down to 2.6 percent, below a European Union cap of 3 percent to avoid sanctions by the European body, despite a forecast by European Commissioners that sees the deficit hitting 3 percent of GDP in 2006 and missing the target set by Athens.
    The strike follows a nationwide walkout by the private sector in March that also brought transport to a halt and a series of smaller strikes by other unions such as municipal workers in the last months over pay and pension issues.
    Since coming to power in 2004 the conservative government has vowed to push forward economic reforms of the public and private labour sectors to cut spending and increase competition in the country, much to the ire of unions who say the average standard of living of workers is falling due to low pay and high prices. Unions have pulled a lot of weight with previous socialist governments but current government officials say labour practices are hindering investment.
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