The strike of workers in the public and private sectors has completely paralyzed traffic and the operation of public services in Greece, agencies report. In a 24-hour strike declared by the largest Greek unions, more than three million employees in government services, local government, hospitals, schools, universities, banks, courts, and numerous factories have ceased work.
Air, maritime, and rail traffic have been severely affected. Public transport in Athens operates only to transport strikers to protest locations. And given that journalists have also joined the strike, the country will experience an informational blackout. The strike is being held in protest against strict government austerity measures aimed at preventing state bankruptcy. Greece has committed to reducing last year’s budget deficit of 12.7 percent of GDP to three percent, as mandated by the EU, by 2012. The government has frozen public sector wages, some reduced by 10 percent, and raised the retirement age to 63 years. The slow economic recovery is leading to an increasing number of dissatisfied individuals protesting against the loss of acquired privileges and increasingly precarious jobs. In France, the strike of air traffic controllers that began yesterday continues. Spain is shaken by protests against a proposed new labor law that would facilitate easier hiring but also firing of workers. (HRT)
