Millions of workers joined a 24-hour nationwide strike on Oct. 8 called by the Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Olympic Airlines Union. The strike responded to the government’s plan to privatize Olympic Airlines by 2009.
Airlines, railways, public transportation and ports were forced to shut down. Telephone and communication employees and hospital workers walked off their jobs in solidarity and to demand an end to the privatizing of state-owned companies.
“Workers, pensioners and the unemployed have exhausted their patience and are determined to continue strike actions as long as this policy of poverty and social inequality continues,” GSEE said in a statement.
The work stoppage follows numerous protests and militant actions by airline workers in protest of the privatization. Another 24-hour strike is planned for Oct. 21 to protest the government’s 2009 budget.
