Strike in Greece
The conservative government of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis wants to press ahead with its privatisation plans and the overhaul of the country's pension system.
The plans include eliminating most early retirement schemes, merging pension funds and capping auxiliary pensions.
Public offices across the country were forced to close, with hundreds of thousands of people thought to have joined the nationwide strike, called by PAME and the two official unions.
Nearly 200 domestic and international flights and many train services were cancelled, and ferries were forced to remain in port.
The public transport was interrupted for more than 12 hours. State hospitals ran on skeleton staffs, while schools, universities and post offices kept their doors closed. Many factories, private enterprises and thousands of shops were also closed.
Bank staff, lawyers, journalists and civil engineers also joined the strike. Newspapers, radio and TV station were shut down for 24 h. The country has effectively come to a halt. Participation exceeded in many sectors 90% of the work force.
Big meetings and marches were organized by PAME in all 63 major Greek cities demanding:
- Rejection of the 2009 draft budget due to go before parliament this week
- Rejection of the measures in favour of the banks and big capital in relation to the crisis
- 1400 basic salary
- Halt for privatisations
- Measures in favour of the immigrant workers
- Solidarity with the strike of the students
Info by the International Section
e-mail:cpg@int.kke.gr