Strike paralyses Greek transport

ATHENS, Greece -- Transport was disrupted throughout Greece on Thursday as thousands of workers walked out in protest at labour reforms.

Air and rail schedules were cut to a minimum, with buses and the underground metro in Athens stopped during the 24-hour strike by workers and civil servants. Government ministries, banks and the media were also effected.

Thousands of protesting workers marched through Athens to parliament, where a controversial labour law was being debated, shouting anti-government slogans.

The national airline, Olympic Airways, flew only one flight per destination, inter-city trains cut back schedules and ships were docked at ports around the country.

"Planes are flying without delays but most scheduled flights had been canceled. There is only one flight for each internal destination and only one flight for each country abroad," the Athens airport flight manager said.

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), Greece's largest labour grouping, and its public sector sister ADEDY staged the strike.

The law being considered by parliament -- and almost certain to be enacted -- includes reforms such as easier group dismissals by corporations and flexible working hours, but falls short of satisfying demands by the GSEE.

The GSEE have not backed down on calls for a 35-hour week without a reduction in pay, while industrialists' unions wanted no less than 38 hours a week, journalist John Psaropoulos of the daily Athens News told CNN.com.

"The question is how much this will cost the government morally. Being socialists, the government is supposed to support the workers, but being neo-socialists they are also trying to help the industrialists," Psaropoulos said.

The government said the bill aims at modernising the Greek labour market and boosting employment.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Athens strike takes hold
October 10, 2000

Greek Parliament
Athens News

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