48-hour labor strike Tuesday and Wednesday

A 48-hour nationwide general strike against austerity measures and privatisations was launched on Tuesday, ahead of a parliamentary vote on the government's Medium-Term fiscal programme on Wednesday at the conclusion of an ongoing debate in the 300-member House and on the programme's Implementation Law on Thursday.

Protest rallies will also be held in Athens, Thessaloniki and throughout the country on both days.

The strike, called by the country's two major umbrella federations GSEE and ADEDY, representing the private and public sectors respectively, is expected to bring transports and public services to a standstill.

Athens will be without public transport on both days with the exception of the Athens Metro, which will run normally after train drivers decided to suspend their mobilisations in order to facilitate transportation to and from rallies and demonstrations.

Air traffic will be disrupted as Air Traffic Controllers are taking part in the industrial action with four-hour work stoppages from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. on both days.

Ships will remain docked in port for both days, as port employees, dockworkers and seamen's federations are taking part in the strike.

Public Power Corporation (PPC) employees, who are currently in their second week of rolling 48-hour strikes, will also participate in the general strike under the cover of GSEE. The PPC strike has caused alternating power cuts in regions throughout the country.

Hospitals, health centers, ambulance service and welfare services will be operating with security (skeleton) staff for emergencies only, as doctors and nursing staff are taking part in the 48-hour strike.

Pharmacies throughout the country will remain closed on Tuesday.

The General Confederation of small manufacturing and merchants of Greece (GSEBEE) has also announced participation in the mobilisations.

The main Athens rally, organised by GSEE and ADEDY will be staged at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Pedion tou Areos park in central Athens, while the two umbrella labor federations have called workers to demonstrate at downtown Syntagma Square, in front of parliament, on Wednesday morning, and to another demonstration at 7:00 in the evening at nearby Klafthmonos Square.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) affiliated PAME labor organisation is staging its own separate rallies, at 10:00 on Tuesday morning in central Omonia Square and at 7:00 in the evening at the pillars of the Olympian Zeus, and another rally 1t 10:00 Wednesday morning at Omonia Square.

The ongoing Indignants' movement, in its 5th week of protests, will demonstrate at Syntagma Square at 9:00 on Tuesday morning and later join up with the striking protestors, while on Wednesday, the day of the vote on the Medium-Term fiscal program, the Indignants intend to circle parliament.

Indignants' delegations from all parts of the country are arriving in Athens on Tuesday to join the main Indignants' demonstration at Syntagma Square. Greek Indignants have been demonstrating daily outside parliament since May 25.

Journalists and media workers are also taking part in the industrial action with four-hour work stoppages from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

ANA-MPA