Forbes

Greece

December 11, 2007

Greek public sector and private sector unions have called a 24 hour nationwide strike tomorrow to protest at initial government steps to reform the ailing pension system.

The commuting public will face serious transport problems tomorrow, due to the strike called by the General Confederation of Workers (GSEE) and the Civil Servants Union (ADEDY), which is likely to bring the whole country to a grinding halt. 

Air traffic controllers will participate in the strike, meaning that no airplanes will be able to land or take off from Greek airports. However, there will be skeleton staff on hand in case an emergency landing is needed by a plane in Greek airspace.

Buses and trolley services will stop running for 24 hours, and railways and the metro will also be affected.

Lawyers, doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, bank employees, civil servants and private sector workers are all expected to participate in the strikes.
Journalists will also be on strike from 6.00 am tomorrow, but this is not expected to affect Thomson Financial News' coverage of the Greek markets and local news.

The government has only just started to look at reforms to Greece's fragmented and debt-ridden pension system, which contains many inequalities, and has been seeking dialogue with unions, worker representatives and community groups.

However, workers fear that it will mean that their benefits will take a hit and the age to qualify for pensions will be lifted, meaning an extension of their working lives.

Employees also fear that assets of healthy pension funds will be used to support financially weaker funds, and have criticized the government for not agreeing to pay its outstanding contributions.

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