[Iran Press TV Latest] Greek workers plan to launch a general 24-hour strike next week to express protest against a pension reform, which has its roots in government austerity measures. The general walkout on May 20th will be in response to planned pension cuts linked to an international 110-billion-euro (139.7-billion-dollar) bailout for Greece.
Greece's main public and private sector unions said in a statement that they are "fundamentally against the proposed pension reform draft bill crafted by the government. We consider that our joint effort has to immediate, dynamic, and unified."
The strike is going to take place one day after the cash-strapped country must repay around EUR 9 billion (USD 11.4 billion) in expiring debt, using loans from its eurozone partners and the International Monetary Fund.
According to a recent deal with the IMF and the European Union, Athens has agreed new budget cuts of EUR 30 billion, to become eligible for receiving a rescue package.
The austerity measures require cuts in wages and increases in taxes, something that both the public and private sector unions are against.
The unions in Greece have vowed to organize even more strikes if the government will not abandon its policies.
"If the government doesn't change course, even more strike action and protests will follow," said Stathis Anestis, spokesman for private sector umbrella union GSEE.
Next week's strike will be the fourth since February.