Unions make stand with general strike
In the first general strike since the summer, workers in the public sector, local government, tax offices, insurance funds and state hospitals are among those who will walk off the job on Wednesday to protest the government?s austerity measures.
Public transport will be disrupted while flights in and out of Greek airports will be canceled due to air-traffic controllers taking part in the action. Passenger ferry sailings are also likely to be severely disrupted.
Greece?s largest private sector union, GSEE, and the public sector union, ADEDY, which combined represent more than 2 million workers, will hold a rally in Klafthmonos Square in central Athens, which is due to begin at 11 a.m.
They are protesting imminent salary cuts and sackings in the civil service as well as tax rises and the potential reduction of the minimum wage in the private sector.
Despite the strike, the Athens metro will be operating throughout the day but trains will not run all the way to the airport. They will stop at Doukissis Plakentias station. Buses will run between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., trolley buses will be on the road from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the Kifissia-Piraeus electric railway (ISAP) will be working between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The tram will run normally but intercity trains and the Proastiakos suburban railway will not be in operation at all.
There have already been a number of sit-in protests at ministries this week. Some 50 protesters took over the office of Labor Minister Giorgos Koutroumanis on Tuesday morning.
GSEE and ADEDY have organized another strike for October 19, which they expect to be better attended than Wednesday?s rally.
