Greek Transit Workers Strike



By ALKMAN GRANITSAS

ATHENS—Thousands of Greek public-transport workers walked off the job Thursday in a 24-hour strike over austerity reforms, a day after the government approved new budget cuts to appease the country's international creditors.

Greek railways employees gather outside their offices in Athens on Thursday. during their 24-hours strike protesting against the new rule placing them temporary out of work.

The walkout halted all mass transit around the Greek capital, Athens, leading to massive traffic jams during the morning rush hour—some stretching kilometers—as residents struggled to get in to work.

The strike, involving bus, subway, tram, electric rail, trolley and suburban rail workers, is the first in a series of protests planned for coming days over the latest cutbacks.

Taxi owners also walked off the job, while teachers have called their own 24-hour strike. Air-traffic controllers at the Athens airport will hold a three-hour walkout later in the day, which has led to the cancellation or delay of dozens of flights.

Greece's two main umbrella unions—private-sector GSEE and civil-servants union ADEDY—have announced a nationwide public-sector strike for Oct. 5, and a nationwide general strike on Oct. 19.

Under pressure from its international creditors, Greece's government decided late Wednesday to implement fresh pension cuts, levy new taxes for low-income earners and put 30,000 public workers in a special labor reserve at reduced pay this year. Cuts in public-sector wages and other measures are also planned.

At stake is an €8 billion tranche of aid from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund that Greece must receive in the next few weeks or the government will run out of money by mid-October. Greece's creditors have demanded additional austerity measures before they will release that aid.

Greek Transit Workers Strike - WSJ.com