Greeks Halt Flights, Close Shops, Schools With 24-Hour Strike Against Cuts

[marmar]

Greeks Halt Flights, Shut Shops as Strikes Escalate (Update1)
By Maria Petrakis


May 5 (Bloomberg) -- Greek air-traffic controllers and teachers walked off their jobs and shopkeepers shuttered their stores to challenge Prime Minister George Papandreou’s latest decision to cut wages and pensions and raise taxes in return for a 110 billion-euro ($143 billion) rescue package.

Air-traffic controllers effectively closed down Greek airspace as part of the 24-hour general walkout supported by the country’s public and private-sector unions. Athens International Airport, the country’s biggest, cancelled all flights into and out of the airfield a day after dozens of flights were grounded due to a public-sector protest.

Today’s strike, the third general strike this year, follows Papandreou’s announcement of a second set of wage cuts for public workers, a three-year freeze on pensions and a second increase this year in sales taxes and the price of fuel, alcohol and tobacco in return for a bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. The austerity measures have been called “savage” by union groups.

“These measures are unjust and should be paid for by those politicians over the past 30 years who have led us here,” said Barbara Tzerbou, 37, a lawyer, who came to central Athens with her brother to participate in her first-ever protest. Papandreou “had choices; we didn’t need to get as far the IMF,” she said.

‘IMF OUT’

Protesters daubed “IMF OUT” in red paint on pillars around the centrally located Finance Ministry. Stores in the main shopping street of Ermou were mainly open for business, with some lowering shutters over display windows to protect against any violence. Thousands of people walked slowly down the city’s streets to the Greek Parliament. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=adajyWmY_66I&pos=8

[blindpig]

1. Good for them

What people got to understand is that this is the same thing that capital has been doing to the 'third world' for decades. This program is now being expanded to the 'developed world. Because they can. When you hear the phrase 'fiscal responsibility' be very afraid.

'First they came for the Greeks...'

[malaise]

2. We have strikes here as well

Teachers were out for two days - they return to work today but the Water Commission workers started their strike yesterday. Last week Air Jamaica workers went on strike.
It won't be long before we have complete social unrest.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Please read what blindpig said. then read it again. He is right.

The IMF model is to "rescue" countries that have been first tricked into deep debt, but the
"rescue loans" always...always...have rules. Strangely, the same rules, every time.
Lower living standards, privatize public services.
Having done this for years in what we call the 3rd world countries, it is now being done to Greece and WILL be done to any other European country in the same mess.
Very quietly it is happening here. Cash poor cities are selling off their water, roads to private companies.
Read John Perkins.

Better yet, see The Godfather again.

Same deal.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. How was Greece tricked?

Tax Evasion is a national pastime there and the overspending has been going on for a generation

[ZeitgeistObserver]

3. Greeks run up more bills for their country

is what it should say.

[blindpig]

5. What a reactionary..

You are nicely house broken, mebbe they'll feed you at the table, scraps of course.

[JCMach1]

6. Right-wing Greek government bankrupted the country on the back of a bank bailout

Year after year of right-wing laissez-faire policies...

To make matters worse a big chunk of the bailout for Greece is going to... you guessed it, THE BANKS!

[Echo In Light]

7. K/R