A 24-hour public transport strike in buses, trolleys, the Athens metro and ISAP trains and the tram is taking place as scheduled on Thursday, as the unions of mass transit employees decided to defy court rulings issued late Wednesday designating the strikes illegal, and despite warnings by the government of disciplinary action and other sanctions provided by law against the defiant strikers. The controversial bill restructuring public transports, which has sparked an ongoing wave of strikes and stoppages, was unveiled on Wednesday afternoon after being approved by the Cabinet earlier in the day.
The greater Athens area is without mass transit, despite the Athens First Instance Court ruling issued after recourses by the administrations of the public transport companies.
The Hellenic Rail (OSE) intercity routes and the Proastiakos suburban railway, however, were running normally after suspension of the 24-hour strike by the relevant employees' unions.
Infrastructures, Transport and Networks minister Dimitris Reppas warned strikers that if they carry on with the mobilisations despite the court ruling, they will face disciplinary and other sanctions.
(ANA-MPA)
