Greece Paralyzed by Nationwide Strike

The nationwide strike in neighboring Greece is in protest against new tax legislation and fears of new cuts in salaries and pensions. Photo EPA/BGNES

The public and the private sector in Greece are paralyzed Wednesday as trade unions have called a 24-hour nationwide strike.

The strike is in protest against new tax legislation and fears of new cuts in salaries and pensions. It comes during tough negotiations between the government and debt inspectors from the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission, known collectively as the troika, over what austerity measures are needed to plug a budget gap next year.

The strike affects public transportation – trains and trolleys in the capital Athens and buses in Thessaloniki. It halts ferry and train services, shuts down state-run schools and leaves state hospitals and the ambulance service functioning with emergency staff.

Dozens of flights are canceled or rescheduled as air traffic controllers are to walk off the job for three hours from noon in support of the labor action. Journalists will not work between 10 am and 3 pm.

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