Greek taxi drivers march towards the Finance Ministry in Athens during their strike on October 14. Greece’s two main unions prepare to hold a two-day general strike this week. AFP photo
Greek unions lashed out at the government yesterday with protests, strikes and ministry building sit-ins, intensifying resistance to austerity cuts in what will be a decisive week for the future of the country and the wider 17-nation eurozone.
Greece faces a key vote on new austerity measures on Oct 20, while other eurozone countries are rushing to find a comprehensive solution to the debt crisis by the end of the week. Both the vote and the plan are required to avoid a loss of confidence in global markets that some fear would plunge the world economy back into recession.
Protesting civil servants continued occupations of the finance and labor ministry buildings yesterday. Tax collectors and customs officers walked off the job, while strikes also forced ferries to the Greek islands to remain idle and rotting trash on Athens’ streets to pile up for a 16th day.
A 48-hour general strike to be held tomorrow and Oct. 20 is set to ground flights for two days and cripple public and many private services, with bakers yesterday joining the growing list of protest participants.
The Socialist government is facing mounting party dissent over a vote in parliament Thursday to pass a new punishing round of tax hikes and pay cuts agreed in exchange for bailout loans. With a majority of just four seats in parliament, the government is facing the prospect of an embarrassing defeat over a central part of the new legislation which involves plans to strip Greek workers of decades-old labor rights.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=debt-crisis-enters-decisive-week-as-strikes-hit-greece-2011-10-17