Greece hit by third general strike
Protestors take to the streets in another protest over recovery plans
Debt-plagued Greece ground to a halt again yesterday with its third nationwide strike against the government’s austerity plans.
Flights were grounded and other transport services came to a near standstill as an estimated 50,000 protestors took to the streets of Athens.
Greece’s two main umbrella unions for private and public sector workers (GSEE and ADEDY) called the strike as a protest over the €4.8 billion package of spending cuts and tax increases aimed at halting the country’s ballooning budget deficit.
The socialist government recently revealed a series of austerity packages to reduce the budget deficit from last year’s equivalent of 12.7% of GDP to 8.7% this year.
The plans include the top VAT rate rising to 21% from 19%, cuts in civil service entitlements and bonuses, tax increases on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes and a freeze on public sector pensions.
Greece’s leaders are meeting with EU finance ministers next week in a bid to persuade richer member states to provide support.
Flights were grounded and other transport services came to a near standstill as an estimated 50,000 protestors took to the streets of Athens.
Greece’s two main umbrella unions for private and public sector workers (GSEE and ADEDY) called the strike as a protest over the €4.8 billion package of spending cuts and tax increases aimed at halting the country’s ballooning budget deficit.
The socialist government recently revealed a series of austerity packages to reduce the budget deficit from last year’s equivalent of 12.7% of GDP to 8.7% this year.
The plans include the top VAT rate rising to 21% from 19%, cuts in civil service entitlements and bonuses, tax increases on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes and a freeze on public sector pensions.
Greece’s leaders are meeting with EU finance ministers next week in a bid to persuade richer member states to provide support.
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