Greek ferries, trains halted as thousands protest

Transport and nationalist services successful Greece were disrupted connected Wednesday arsenic thousands of workers staged a 24-hour wide strike against authorities plans to present a 13-hour workday.

Greek trains, ferries and taxis were halted, while teachers, infirmary staff and civilian servants besides took portion successful the walkout. The strike was organised by Greece’s largest backstage and nationalist trade unions, GSEE and ADEDY, who accidental that the authorities bill, which would let employers to question up to 13 hours of work a time from their staff compared with the existent eight, hurts workers’ rights.

Police said implicit 8,000 radical successful Athens and Thessaloniki were protesting, with different large cities besides seeing demonstrations. Thousands of workers marched to parliament successful Athens carrying banners that read: “No to slavery.”

“We are present to accidental nary to a monstrous bill,” said Dimitra, a 24-year-old income assistant. “Stop it! We are not machines.”

The main backstage assemblage union GSEE has said the betterment “endangers the wellness and information of workers and destroys the equilibrium betwixt nonrecreational and idiosyncratic life.” Pro-communist union PAME accused the authorities of seeking to present “modern slavery” for workers and unit them to endure “inhumane hours and miserable wages.”

“This instrumentality will not amended anything,” said Panagiotis Gakas, a subordinate of the operation workers’ union. “Workplace accidents often hap during overtime hours when workers are exhausted,” the 59-year-old said, noting that the union has already recorded 20 fatal working accidents successful its sector.

Hairdresser and union subordinate Notis Skouras said: “With this law, workers will nary longer person a backstage beingness and for what? To fulfill employers and summation their profits! Has the economical and κοινωνικά situation improved successful Greece? I think today’s events are a bully reply to this question. Rents person increased, salaries person stagnated, and working conditions are not improving.”

Teacher Violetta Galanopoulou, 42, added: “Is it truly a λύση to exhaust workers and marque them work so galore hours a time astatine the hazard of endangering their lives and intelligence health?”

Public assemblage workers accidental the authorities should summation wages instead. “This measure lone extends the exploitation of workers, smashes labour rights and our families’ incomes,” said Veta Papoutsakou, 65, a nationalist assemblage union representative.

Government defends bill

The draught law, which besides gives employers much flexibility connected short-term hirings and amends rules connected yearly permission successful the backstage sector, is expected to beryllium submitted to parliament this month.

The measure allows staff to work 13 hours a time for the aforesaid leader under exceptional circumstances, for other pay. Labour Minister Niki Kerameus has stressed the measurement is “exceptional” and will successful nary way beryllium generalised.

“It is simply a provision… valid for up to 37 days per year… lone with the employee’s consent and with 40 percent accrued pay,” she told Mega TV this week.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, successful powerfulness since 2019, has besides defended the reform. “We warrant a state of prime for some the leader and the employee. Why would that beryllium antisocial?” helium said earlier this month.

Mitsotakis has noted that galore young radical presently person two jobs and want to work much to gain more. “We warrant a state of choice,” helium said.

With AAP and AFP