Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Greece in grip of strikes

A difficult week lies ahead for commuters but also those in need of a doctor or medicines as strikes continue throughout Greece, with various groups protesting against reforms proposed by the government. 
 
All Athens public transport staff will hold work stoppages on Wednesday to protest against the draft bill concerning public transport and signal their displeasure to managements that are resorting to the courts to have their strikes declared illegal. 
 
In an unprecedented move on Tuesday, protestors descended on the Athens metro headquarters and bricked up the office of its Ceo as a symbolic gesture. 
 
During a general assembly, meanwhile, metro workers decided to hold a four-hour work stoppage from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday in order to join a march being organised by striking doctors. 
 
Workers in the electric railway Isap have also decided a work stoppage from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. while the buses will not be working between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and trolley buses between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 
 
Others on strike are Ika-Etam doctors, who are holding a series of rolling 24-hour strikes until Friday, hospital doctors throughout the country that are on strike until Thursday, pharmacists that will be until Wednesday and lawyers, who are continuing to refuse court appearances. 
 
A work stoppage has also been declared on Thursday by the civil servants' union federation Adedy.
 
 
 
 
source: ANA