Nationwide strike shuts down Greek airport, banks, schools – Summary
Athens – Riot police fired tear gas at protesting youths in Athens Tuesday as the demonstrators hurled rocks in support of a nationwide strike that paralysed air, sea, rail and public services across Greece. The strike was called by Greece’s two largest unions, private sector federation GSEE and public sector union ADEDY, representing more than half of the country’s workforce of 5 million.
The unions are protesting against the 2009 budget, which is expected to go to parliament for debate this week. The unions say it fails to ensure workers will receive either their pensions or protection from privatizations and tax collecting measures.
The demonstrations were also called to protest proposed labour reforms and plans to privatize companies, such as Olympic Airlines.
The country came to a standstill during the latest nationwide strike, which forced Athens’ International Airport to shut down for several hours.
Dozens of demonstrations took place in cities, towns and islands across the country. In Athens, more than 15,000 people protested in two separate demonstrators.
Riot police ended up using tear gas in the second of the two demonstrations after angry youths started hurling objects at them. No one was reported injured.
The 24-hour strike shut down banks, schools, public services and transport. Ferries were forced to remain docked at ports across the country. Lawyers, railway workers and civil engineers also joined the protest. Journalists enforced a news blackout to protest drastic economic policies.
Air traffic controllers stopped work for four hours, forcing the cancellation of more than 200 flights to European destinations such as London, Rome, Paris and Frankfurt.
Workers at partially-privatized telecommunication company OTE, and the state-run Public Power Corporation joined the demonstrations, as did state hospital employees, leaving hospitals to operate with a small handful of emergency staff.
Urban transport such as buses, trolley buses and trams were also disrupted as employees staged numerous work stoppages throughout the day.
Last month, the Greek government launched a tender to sell off the ailing Olympic Airlines, saying it would find new public sector jobs for its workers. But union leaders have pledged to halt the privatization.
The conservative government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, has been rocked by recent scandals. It said it will push forward with reforms and privatizations despite union opposition. It has promised to protect Greece’s population from rising inflation.