GREECE: Government reforms to curb public spending prompt strike action by labour unions, shutting down airports, schools and public services

Record ID: 341897

  • Title: GREECE: Government reforms to curb public spending prompt strike action by labour unions, shutting down airports, schools and public services
  • Date: 11th November 2005
  • Summary: (EU) ATHENS,GREECE (NOVEMBER 10, 2005) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, UNLOADING AREA FOR PASSENGERS (2 SHOTS) EMPTY CONTROL TOWER INTERIOR OF AIRPORT EMPTY FLIGHT BOARD TURNED OFF CHECK-IN ISLES EMPTY (3 SHOTS) MARVIN LABERTO, ON A BUSINESS TRIP FROM GULF PORT, MISSISSIPPI, USA, WITH HIS LUGGAGE WHO DIDNT KNOW THERE WAS A STRIKE WALKING AROUND AIRPORT (SOUNDBITE)(English) MARVIN LABERTO SAYING: "No one told me. And it's difficult to find out anything on the TV station because I don't speak or understand Greek.'' EMPTY CHECK-IN COUNTER LUGGAGE BELT SWITCHED OFF CHECK-IN COMPUTER SWITCHED OFF SCHOOLTEACHER ASHLEY GALE ON HOLIDAY FROM DENVER, COLORADO, USA, WHO DIDNT KNOW THERE WAS A STRIKE, SITTING ON THE FLOOR OF AIRPORT SAYING TO CAMERA, ''HELLO, IVE BROUGHT MY READING'' SHOWING BOOKS. (SOUNDBITE)(English) SCHOOLTEACHER ASHLEY GALE SAYING: "It's a hassle. It's not how I wanted to end my trip but its part of the experience I guess. I have another story to tell the children back at home. I was looking forward to getting home and getting some rest and going to school on Friday but now I won't make it to school until Monday.'' PLANES PARKED ON RUNWAY (4 SHOTS) LABOUR UNION MEMBERS MARCHING THROUGH STREETS OF ATHENS (2 SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE)(Greek) SECRETARY OF TEACHERS UNION THOMAS AKRITAS SAYING: ''We are demanding wage increases for teachers so that we can live with dignity.'' PROTEST MARCHERS (5 SHOTS) EXTERIOR OF ATHENS HOSPITAL RED CROSS FLAG ON HOSPITAL ENTRANCE GATE OF HOSPITAL
  • Embargoed: 26th November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece, Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE4UHI96CU1CJY0ZUJJYIA1FAT
  • Story Text: Flight boards at airports switched off on Thursday (November 10) as all planes came to a halt as part of a 24 hour labour strike across the country.
    At Athens International Airport, Greece's largest airport, check-in counters and aisles were empty as 158 arrivals and 162 departures were cancelled for the day.
    The majority of passengers had been informed of the strike and stayed away with the exception of a few stragglers who were unaware the strike was taking place.
    "No one told me,'' said dentist Marvin Laberto from Mississippi on his way to a dental convention in Turkey.
    ''It's a hassle, it's not how I wanted to end my trip,'' said schoolteacher Ashley Gale on holiday from Colorado, who also unaware of the action spent the night on the floor of the airport.
    Aiport officials said only emergency cases would be served at the aiport after the air traffic controllers union called the strike to demand better wages and conditions.
    Their action was followed by school teachers, professors, doctors and civil servants, as the government prepares labour reforms to cut public spending.
    At hospitals only a skeleton staff to serve emergencies were at their posts.
    Tough measures are on the way as the government prepares its 2006 budget, under pressure from the European Union to cut its budget deficit to below the EU cap of 3 percent by next year. The budget deficit was at 6.6 percent in 2004.
    Greece angered its EU partners and was forced to revise its budget figures after it was revealed last year that it joined the euro zone in 2001 with a budget deficit over the EU's cap.
    Close to a thousand protesters marched through central Athens to the Finance Ministry, waving banners reading "No To Austerity" and "Dump the budget".
    The government is determined to reign in public spending and push forward structural reforms to increase competitiveness.
    Many public utilities are burdened with hefty labour and pension costs.
    Talks on 2006/2007 wage deals are expected to start early next year for both the public and private sectors. The government has said it wants to cap public sector wage rises at
    2 percent, the forecast for Greek consumer inflation in 2006.
    Unions are demanding better wage increases, as the cost of living continues to rise and unionists claim wages are lower than other EU countries.
    ''We are demanding wage increases for teachers so that we can live with dignity,'' said Secretary of the teachers union, Thomas Akritas
    Earlier this year the government cut overtime pay and is introducing reforms at state owned firms, such as at the country's public telecoms firm (OTE) where voluntary redundancy was introduced and permanent tenure for new employees was terminated.
    The reforms have caused the ire of labour unions who oppose any plans that will cut jobs or affect wages and pensions.
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