Greek unions yesterday kicked off a general strike against fresh austerity cuts, the first under the leftist government of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
The 24-hour strike against tax hikes and an upcoming pensions overhaul has shut down public services, hit ship and train transport and forced the cancellation of dozens of domestic flights.
“We are fighting against government measures that perpetuate medieval labor relations ... we react to any austerity measure that downgrades our lives,” leading union GSEE said.
Photo: Reuters
Hospitals operated with just emergency staff, and museums and archaeological sites were closed.
Journalists were also participating in the 24-hour walkout.
Street protests were held in Athens from 10:30am.
The mobilization was being held as senior representatives of the European Commission, the European Central Bank, the IMF and the European Stability Fund held a review of reforms pledged under the nation’s third bailout.
Greece in July accepted a three-year, 86 billion euro (US$93 billion) EU bailout that saved it from crashing out of the eurozone, but came with strict conditions.
Athens has since adopted a number of unpopular reforms but is now under creditor pressure to facilitate home loan foreclosures. The Greek government insists on maintaining a safety net for more vulnerable households.
There is also a rift over Greece’s mechanism for dealing with bad loans — an important factor in shoring up the nation’s beleaguered banks.
However, a senior minister late on Wednesday said that an agreement could be clinched by the end of this week.
“I believe we would have closed all the issues by Saturday,” Greek Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism George Stathakis said.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ decision to accept a third EU bailout conditioned on fresh tax hikes and pay cuts caused a split in his ruling SYRIZA party over the summer.
While the government has pledged to apply the cuts, SYRIZA this week called for a “mass participation” in yesterday’s strike, determined to continue the struggle against “anti-social, extreme neoliberal policies.”
The paradox was quickly picked up on social media.
“I’m confused. Are we marching with Alexis to topple Tsipras, or with Tsipras to topple Alexis?” one user said.
Tsipras has called the bailout agreement a “painful compromise” and a “tactical retreat” that enabled the nation to avoid bankruptcy and stay in the euro.
GSEE and its public sector sister union ADEDY expected thousands to take part in protest rallies.
Central Athens was bustling with commercial activity early yesterday, with little sign of disruption. Two police buses were parked off a central square with a stack of riot shields resting against one; Greek mass protests in the past have been marked by violence.
Some people opted to work.
“If I don’t work, I don’t get paid,” a 23-year-old waitress in downtown Athens said.
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