Greece: New wave of strikes

Society paralysed by a week of major strikes and a general strike - Third wave of PASOK government austerity attacks provokes outrage

 By Andreas Payiatsos, Xekinima (CWI Greece), Athens

Wednesday 15 December saw one of the biggest general strikes in Greece in recent years. Nothing moved in the country, apart from public transport in Athens to bring workers to the center of the city to demonstrate against the third wave of austerity attacks agreed between the PASOK Greek government, the EU and the IMF.

The strike was 100% solid in the docks, shipyards and steel works, Coca Cola company and many other sectors, while it was close to 90% in the energy sector, Telecoms, the post, the water company, the banking sector etc. The rail system (not the Athens Metro) came to a complete standstill while all flights were cancelled and no ferries left the ports. The number of sectors which responded to the strike call is too long to list. Suffice to say, even judges went on strike and campaigned for it among other workers in the judiciary system. Taxi drivers went on strike, even private dentists and chemists. Despite a very rainy day and cold weather, close to 100,000 demonstrated in Athens and tens of thousands protested in other cities.

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Also see video footage on CNN’s website