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Greece's main union says will not strike soon
* Private sector union GSEE will not stage strikes soon
September 23, 2010
Greek private sector workers will not strike against austerity measures anytime soon but the government must be aware rising unemployment may spark unrest, a union leader told Reuters on Thursday.
Less affected by austerity measures than civil servants, who have seen salaries slashed by about 15 percent, private sector union GSEE has staged six general strikes and protests that have often turned violent this year, worrying investors and hurting the key tourism sector.
"We have staged so many strikes, yet the tough policies, the ones prescribed by the (EU/IMF) memorandum have been implemented and there are no obvious alternative solutions," GSEE president Yannis Panagopoulos said in an interview. "There are no plans for a general strike in the immediate future."
This would ease pressure on the government, which has struggled to implement EU and IMF prescribed austerity measures and reforms in exchange for 110 billion euros ($147.4 billion) aimed at helping the country avert bankruptcy.
But Panagopoulos warned of possible non-union unrest if the government did not take steps to secure growth and create jobs to tackle unemployment, which hit a 10-year high in the second quarter.
"I'm afraid that if not dealt with, unemployment will become a huge social problem which will lead to reactions that don't follow institutional procedures, the reaction of people who have been affected and have no other way to react," he said.
"The financial crisis is radically turning into an employment crisis. Our estimate is that the number of unemployed will rise by 150,000-170,000 people in 2011." Some 600,000 were unemployed in the second quarter, official figures show.
PARTICIPATION WANES
GSEE union and its public sector sister ADEDY represent half of Greece's workforce. Wildcat strikes and marches continued even during the summer but turnout has started to wane.
The death of three bank workers during a demonstration in Athens in May has also dampened enthusiasm for protests. Despite the belt-tightening, opinion polls show the ruling Socialists ahead of their conservative opponents, blamed by many Greeks for the fiscal crisis.
Panagopoulos said any future strikes would depend on how the government applies policies but also workers' appetite and stamina for action during a recession. Private sector workers don't get paid when they walk off the job, a growing problem as austerity bites, and many fear lay-offs.
Greek employers and GSEE signed in July a three-year wage deal which foresees a pay freeze for 2010 and wage rises in line with euro zone inflation, currently much lower than Greek inflation, in the next two years.
Although suffering the effects of tax hikes and pension cuts, private sector employees are not in as tight a spot as civil servants, Panagopoulos, said, adding GSEE would not join ADEDY in an Oct. 7 strike.
GSEE will join a pan-European day of labour action on Sept. 29 by staging a rally in Athens, he said.
"Civil servants have felt the big salary cuts and the most violent attack against their rights. Their tactic and their strategy is respected but we can't follow it," he said. -
Reuters
(busrep.co.za)
***
Chi aspettava un autunno caldo?
.
* Private sector union GSEE will not stage strikes soon
September 23, 2010
Greek private sector workers will not strike against austerity measures anytime soon but the government must be aware rising unemployment may spark unrest, a union leader told Reuters on Thursday.
Less affected by austerity measures than civil servants, who have seen salaries slashed by about 15 percent, private sector union GSEE has staged six general strikes and protests that have often turned violent this year, worrying investors and hurting the key tourism sector.
"We have staged so many strikes, yet the tough policies, the ones prescribed by the (EU/IMF) memorandum have been implemented and there are no obvious alternative solutions," GSEE president Yannis Panagopoulos said in an interview. "There are no plans for a general strike in the immediate future."
This would ease pressure on the government, which has struggled to implement EU and IMF prescribed austerity measures and reforms in exchange for 110 billion euros ($147.4 billion) aimed at helping the country avert bankruptcy.
But Panagopoulos warned of possible non-union unrest if the government did not take steps to secure growth and create jobs to tackle unemployment, which hit a 10-year high in the second quarter.
"I'm afraid that if not dealt with, unemployment will become a huge social problem which will lead to reactions that don't follow institutional procedures, the reaction of people who have been affected and have no other way to react," he said.
"The financial crisis is radically turning into an employment crisis. Our estimate is that the number of unemployed will rise by 150,000-170,000 people in 2011." Some 600,000 were unemployed in the second quarter, official figures show.
PARTICIPATION WANES
GSEE union and its public sector sister ADEDY represent half of Greece's workforce. Wildcat strikes and marches continued even during the summer but turnout has started to wane.
The death of three bank workers during a demonstration in Athens in May has also dampened enthusiasm for protests. Despite the belt-tightening, opinion polls show the ruling Socialists ahead of their conservative opponents, blamed by many Greeks for the fiscal crisis.
Panagopoulos said any future strikes would depend on how the government applies policies but also workers' appetite and stamina for action during a recession. Private sector workers don't get paid when they walk off the job, a growing problem as austerity bites, and many fear lay-offs.
Greek employers and GSEE signed in July a three-year wage deal which foresees a pay freeze for 2010 and wage rises in line with euro zone inflation, currently much lower than Greek inflation, in the next two years.
Although suffering the effects of tax hikes and pension cuts, private sector employees are not in as tight a spot as civil servants, Panagopoulos, said, adding GSEE would not join ADEDY in an Oct. 7 strike.
GSEE will join a pan-European day of labour action on Sept. 29 by staging a rally in Athens, he said.
"Civil servants have felt the big salary cuts and the most violent attack against their rights. Their tactic and their strategy is respected but we can't follow it," he said. -
Reuters
(busrep.co.za)
***
Chi aspettava un autunno caldo?
.
.
