May Day under the shadow of the memorandum and without the GSEE president

The GSEE and ADEDY rally at Klafthmonos Square is now over, with the presence of the ADEDY president Spyros Papaspyrou, but without that of GSEE president Giannis Panagopoulos.

Another characteristic was the low attendance rate. Representatives from union associations sent messages to the government asking it to change its financial policy.  

Organizations and extra-parliamentary parties of the left, as well as immigrant groups, marched outside the parliament.

A large number of demonstrators shouted slogans against the memorandum, the Troika and the IMF.
 
Workers’ protests for Labor Day had begun earlier, during the PAME rally in Syntagma Square. General Secretary of KKE Aleka Papariga attended the rally, while the assembled crowd shouted slogans against the memorandum and GSEE. About 3,500 people attended the rally.
 

Traffic arrangements

Meanwhile, a few streets around Syntagma Square will be closed (Vasilissis Sofias from Hilton, Panepistimiou, Stadiou, Patision and Akadimias. Arangements are also in place in the squares of Omonia, Kaniggos, Vathis, Kotzia, Monastirakiou, Karaiskaki, Victorias, Lavriou, Iroon Elefsinas and Megaron, as well as the Propylaea of the Athens University, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Fallen Heroes Monument (Pasalimani).
 

Problems in transport

The last Easter excursionists will face a lot of difficulties returning home and this time not because of the weather, but due to the transport problems caused by the participation of seamen and workers in OSE and suburban rail in the GSEE strike in view of May Day.

So, for this Sunday, May 1st, electric rail, tram and suburban trains will remain docked throughout the day, while trolley workers will perform work stoppages from the start of their shift until 7am and from 10am until the end of their shift.

Metro employees seem divided, as their Workers’ Association decided to go to work while the Association of Drivers decided to join Labor Day happenings with a work stoppage from the start of the shift until 9am. Bus workers have not announced their position.

Please note that on May Day the metro will only be running to Doukissis Plakentias, since the strike of OSE workers does not ensure the safe operation of the line from Plakentias to the airport.