Gridlock in Greece

Workers Stage Widespread Strikes against Pension Reform

A series of strikes orchestrated by Greece's largest unions has caused traffic gridlock in Athens, left tons of garbage uncollected and could cause power outtages in days ahead. The unions are protesting potential pension reforms that might raise the retirement age and cut social benefits.

A string of strikes among public and private sector workers in Greece has caused traffic jams and major service interruptions this week, as the country's biggest unions attempt to squash a proposed pension reform bill.

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), Greece's largest labor union with about 2.5 million members, is leading the strikes in conjunction with other unions of municipal and private employees.

Laborers including electricians, railway workers and garbage collectors have staged strikes during the last week and a half. Previous protests included a three-hour work stoppage by union members on Wednesday and a train strike on Thursday that clogged roadways in Athens. A separate, week-long strike in the capital among municipal workers has left thousands of tons of trash uncollected. Meanwhile, bank workers started a 48-hour walkout on Thursday and power outages could become commonplace as electrical workers hold staggered 24-hour strikes in the week ahead.

Greek Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos urged workers, particularly garbage collectors, to return to work and help avert a public health crisis.

"It is an unacceptable sight, the strike is unjustified and workers must consider its impact on society," said Prokopis Pavlopoulos, according to the English-language edition of the respected Greek daily Kathimerini.

The newspaper also wrote that Greek citizens inconvenienced by the strikes may lose sympathy for the platform of workers who want to see their pension benefits preserved.

"The irritated citzens ... are, with little thought, turning against the striking workers that make their lives even more difficult," stated a commentary published in the paper.

The independent union strikes are expected to culminate on March 19, when the GSEE has called for a 24-hour nationwide strike. That strike, which union leaders say would shut the country down, will coincide with a vote in the federal parliament on the proposed pension reforms.

The changes would hit women especially hard -- raising the retirement age for females from 60 to 65 and for working mothers from 50 to 55. But it would also introduce incentives to encourage all employees to work past the retirement age. Scaled back benefits are also suggested in the bill, which in its current form would be introduced gradually beginning in 2009.

Yiannis Panagopoulos, leader of the GSEE union, told the Associated Press that the reforms would lead to an overall loss of benefits. "These changes will hurt our rights. More people will retire later in life and get less money when they do," he said.

The Greek government, currently led by a conservative majority that took power last summer by a narrow margin, argues that Greece's pension system would collapse within three years without serious reforms.

"We do not consider the political cost they will have because this is something that will help future generations," government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos told the Associated Press.

pmm/ap/reuters