I prefer strike to Revolution.
The nationwide strike was from every sector
Bankers, Lawyers, Electrical and Municipal workers have shut down every industry
From Famagusta Gazette (3/20/08)
A number of domestic and international flights were reportedly cancelled, as air traffic controllers also joined the action.
Schools, ministries and banks were closed for the day.
In Athens, thousands of people took part in a protest rally, and demonstrations were held in several other cities.
From
The Press Association (3/21/08):
Rubbish
collectors have returned to work, removing mounds of waste which had
piled up on city streets during their two-week strike, a day after
Greece's parliament approved unpopular pension reforms despite
widespread protests.
Rolling power cuts which Greeks had
suffered for 17 days also ended after employees at the country's main
power company returned to work.
But some sectors are still on
strike. Lawyers are staying away from court for the fifth day of a
week-long strike, while the bank workers' union declared a 24-hour
strike.
A one-day general strike on Wednesday brought the country to a standstill.
From
Javno via Reuters (3/21/08):
The
bill passed in the 300-seat house with 151 votes in favour, from
conservative MPs and one independent, and 13 MPs from the Leftist
Coalition against. All other parties, including the main socialist
opposition, abstained.
"The nation demands that we proceed with
the necessary changes, that we are not held hostage to the past but
assert our future with courage and self confidence," Prime Minister
Costas Karamanlis told parliament on Friday.
Several hundred
protesters remained outside parliament throughout much of the evening
vote. Some clashed with police. On Wednesday, millions walked off the
job, grounding flights and closing ancient sites, schools and banks.
Bank
workers, teachers and lawyers remained on strike on Friday, while
workers at state power company PPC, on strike for more than two weeks,
said they will meet later to decide how to continue their action.
From
EuroNews (3/21/08):
Workers unions in Greece have promised to continue their fight against pension reforms approved by parliament yesterday.
The bill may still be blocked if legislators decide next week to hold a referendum on the issue.
More
than two weeks of crippling strikes were followed by protests outside
parliament, where the reforms were being passed by the narrowest of
margins.
Many accuse the conservative government of going back on pre-election promises not to cut pension rights.
The
changes include raising the retirement age for women to 65- the same as
for men, offering incentives for people to work beyond 65, and
streamlining the country's many private sector pension schemes.
Working
mothers are the most affected. Paid maternity leave is extended from
four to ten months, but whereas mothers were able to retire after 15
years of employment, they must now wait until they are at least 55.
Workers
in so-called "hazardous" jobs will be required to work two years more
than under current laws before they can take their early retirement.
The
government insists the reforms are necessary to prevent the pensions
system collapsing under the weight of an aging population.
How long before we must take the proactive stance and have a 1 day strike?
I prefer strike to Revolution.
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