BL: Greek Media, Transport Workers Stage 24-Hour Strike Against Austerity Plan
By Maria Petrakis
June 3 (Bloomberg) -- Greek transportation workers in Athens went on a 24-hour strike today to protest government austerity measures, stranding commuters in the country’s biggest city.
No tram, bus or subway services will run today, the state- run Organization for Athens Public Transport said on its website. Rail lines linking the city to the airport and the port of Piraeus will operate, the organization said.
Media unions opposed to planned changes to collective labor agreements and pension reforms also went on strike. No news bulletins will be broadcast today and newspapers won’t be printed tomorrow.
Greece agreed last month to cut wages and pensions, raise sales, fuel and alcohol taxes and overhaul the state-run pension system in return for 110 billion euros ($136 billion) in emergency loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Prime Minister George Papandreou said the measures are needed to curtail a budget deficit of almost 14 percent of economic output and prevent the country from defaulting on its debts after borrowing costs soared.
To contact the reporters on this story: Maria Petrakis in Athens at mpetrakis@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: June 3, 2010 03:02 EDT
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