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| Europe |
| Greek unions plan massive walkouts |
| 2010-12-11 |
| [Iran Press TV] Greek unions plan to go on strikes next week to protest the government's new labor laws which cap public sector salaries and loosen job safeguards. The air traffic controllers association said Friday that flights would be halted for 24 hours on December 15 after it decided to join the broader strike. Public transport services in Athens will also be stopped by separate 24-hour strikes on December 14 and 16. The Socialist government announced the labor overhaul after talks in Athens this week with brass hats from the European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on implementing conditions to receive EUR 110 billion in bailout loans. Greek transportation was severely disrupted on Wednesday as workers protested against the government's austerity plans involving the restructure of the state-run transportation companies and a reduction of subsidy payments. The austerity measures imposed in Greece include cutting civil servant salaries, freezing pension and increasing consumer taxes. These initiatives have caused the anger of labor unions, which organized a series of strikes and demonstrations. IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn on Tuesday said they are considering the possibility of extending the 2013 deadline for Greece to pay back its loan but stressed the need for structural reforms with salary and pension cuts. Strauss-Kahn said that if the measures proposed by the IMF are implemented without deviations, the program will be successful. He added that the success of the plan is linked to the degree of justice that it will inspire in the people. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 I blame Murat, he finally penetrated the hegemony. |
| Posted by: Zombie Hillary Lover 2010-12-11 10:52 |