A nationwide strike is expected to paralyse Greece today, Tuesday, when more than 3 million public and private sector workers embark on a 24-hour walkout in response to pension reforms proposed by the government. Employees in government ministries, municipal offices, hospitals, banks and courts, along with factory workers, are among those set to participate in the strike against austerity measures. With journalists also expected to join the strike, a virtual news blackout is anticipated.
Rail and road transport across the country will be affected and people trying to travel from the port of Pireaus are also likely to experience difficulties, after two of the 14 unions that make up the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation voted to join the strike.
The same two unions blocked dozens of ferries from leaving the port last week in protest at the government's pension reforms.
Following scenes of thousands of tourists and locals being stranded at Pireaus, the government had said that it would not allow such an incident to repeat itself again.
In an effort to protect the country's vital tourism industry, air traffic controllers opted not to join the strike.
The planned strike is the fifth major protest since Athens unveiled austerity measures to battle its budget-deficit crisis.
Greece's parliament is set to approve changes to the country's pension system, which will reduce benefits and state spending, by the beginning of July.
The changes, required by the European Union and International Monetary Fund in return for 110 billion euros (140 billion dollar) in emergency loans, are needed to help Greece narrow what has become the European Union's second biggest budget deficit.
According to opinion polls, a large majority of Greeks oppose the pension reform, which will cut benefits, increase the number of contribution years, raise women's retirement age from 60 to 65 and curb widespread early retirement.
Analysts question whether Athens will be able to enforce the tough measures because it has the potential of unleashing large-scale social unrest - more so than any other austerity decision.
Its success will depend on whether the government can maintain a tough stance on implementing all areas of the reform bill, which is likely to become more difficult as unemployment rises and the country falls deeper into recession, analysts say.
Greece is seeking to cut pension benefits and curb early retirement for hundreds of professions regarded as hardship jobs, such as bakers, butchers and cheese-factory workers.
Pensions would also be frozen in 2011-2013 and the country's many pension funds would be merged into just three.
The pension bill additionally features clauses to reform labour rules, making it easier and cheaper to fire workers.
The ruling Socialist government has 157 of the 300 seats in parliament, making it likely that the reforms will pass despite criticism.
29.06.2010
