Europe

Greek public workers start 2nd public sector strike in two weeks

hedstrom20130924090751673

Greek public workers have started their second public sector strike in two weeks, to protest job cuts demanded by its international lenders to receive additional rescue loans.

The 48-hour walkout began on Tuesday with municipal police, tax office and hospital workers walking off from their jobs, shutting schools and leaving hospitals working with a reduced staff.

The public sector umbrella union, ADEDY, which organized the strike, said government efforts to reduce the 600,000 strong civil service was “the most merciless plan” to eliminate workers’ rights.

School and university teachers, who have been on strike since September 16, are set to hold a protest in the capital Athens later in the day.

The striking public workers are protesting against the government’s plans to transfer 25,000 public workers by the end of this year to a labor pool, where workers will receive reduced wages until they are relocated to another post or laid off.

In addition to the forced transfers, another 15,000 public workers are to be fired by the end of 2014.

The government’s moves are part of an overhaul of the public sector demanded by the troika of international lenders — the European Union (EU), the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund — to release financial aid to the country.

The Tuesday strike started as auditors from the troika of international lenders is conducting assessments on the progress of pledged structural reforms.

The outcome will determine the release of a payout of 1 billion euros (USD 1.4 billion) bailout installment scheduled for October.

Greece has so far received two major aid packages totaling to nearly 240 billion euros. It will reportedly need an additional third bailout at the amount of 10 billion euros to cover a funding gap.

Back to top button