The Greek electricity workers union has decided that it will strike for 48 hours on May 18 to protest new pension reform and austerity measures, adding to the long list of planned strikes.
The Greek electricity workers union has decided that it will strike for
48 hours on May 18 to protest new pension reform and austerity measures, adding
to the long list of planned strikes.
Genop-Dei, the employee body of energy monopoly PPC, said "we are faced
with an unprecedented attack from the government which has surrendered to the
pressure of markets."
The government has recently announced a raft of austerity measures such as cuts
to wages and pensions, hikes in VAT and excise taxes, as well as pension
reforms cutting entitlements and raising retirement ages.
The measures and reforms were a precondition to access the EUR110 billion
bailout package provided by the European Union and the International Monetary
Fund.
"The pension reforms are a direct attack at the autonomy of our pension
fund which has a assets of EUR11.9 billion," the union said.
The union added that on this basis of coming legislative intervention to their
pension rights and their fund, they have "no choice by to fight
strenuously for our rights."
This is the latest of a series of strikes that have been called. On Wednesday,
the umbrella public sector and private sector unions called strikes for May 20
that are expected to paralyze the country.
Communist-backed PAME union is also highly likely to participate separately in
the May 20 strikes and protests.
"And if the government doesn't listen and change course, more protests and
strikes will follow," said the private sector umbrella union spokesman
Stathis Anestis.
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