News / EU

Greece union calls strike over government pension reforms

Wednesday, 25 November 2015 5:57 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 25 November 2015 5:57 PM ]

People hold placards during a massive demonstration as part of a 24-hour general strike in Athens, Greece, November 12, 2015. ©AFP

Greece's largest private sector union has called a 24-hour general walkout in protest against the government’s planned pension reforms demanded by international lenders under the cash-strapped country's third bailout package.

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), which represents approximately 2 million workers, said on Wednesday that its members will go on strike on December 3.

"The workers, the pensioners, the unemployed, the young men and women of our country, will give a dynamic and militant response to the new barbaric, harsh and unpopular measures," GSEE said, adding, “Enough is enough. We can't take it anymore."

Communist-affiliated workers' union PAME also said that it will join the upcoming industrial action "to avert the premeditated crime the capital, the government and the EU have planned against social insurance."

Earlier this month, the administration of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras approved a law, scrapping most early retirement benefits, raising the retirement age, increasing contributions for healthcare.

The legislation also includes plans to overhaul the country's pension system, merging several pension funds into one and reducing supplementary pensions.

The regulation was passed in exchange for a three-year, 86-billion-euro (93-billion-dollar) bailout that Athens accepted recently from its creditors – the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – to save the Mediterranean state from crashing out of the eurozone.

The December 3 work stoppage will be the second of its kind in the past month.

On November 12, thousands of workers flocked into the streets of the Greek capital city of Athens to express their anger at tax hikes and pension changes.

Protesters take cover from exploding tear gas canisters during brief clashes with police during a 24-hour general strike in Athens, Greece, November 12, 2015. ©Reuters

Some 20,000 people took part in the walkout, which was called by the GSEE and the Civil Servants' Confederation (ADEDY). There were sporadic clashes between demonstrators and police during the event.

In July, the government of Tsipras agreed to the demands for austerity measures by lenders in exchange for the multi-billion bailout deal.

The decision triggered outrage from Greeks, who argue Tsipras came to power in January on an anti-austerity platform.

Greece has already received two bailouts in 2010 and 2012, worth a total of 240 billion euros (USD 272 billion) from its creditors following the economic crisis in the Southeast European country back in 2009.

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