WORKERS STRIKE AGAIN IN GREECE

பொருளாதார நெருக்கடியில் தவிக்கும் கிரீஸ் நாடு

 தொழிலாளர்களின்ஊதியங்களையும் மற்ற

சலுகைகளையும் வெட்டப் பார்க்கிறது.

அதற்கு எதிரான போராட்டம் அங்கே

வலுத்து வருகின்றது, காவல்துறை

அடக்குமுறைக்கும் அஞ்சாமல்.

 ATHENS—Workers at Greek public-transport companies walked off the job Thursday in a 24-hour strike that has led to early-morning traffic chaos on the streets of Athens.

During the morning rush hour, television images showed traffic jams stretching for kilometers on various main arteries of the city as Athenians resorted to private transport to get to work.

The strike, which has affected bus, trolley, tram and subway services, is the second all-day strike by public-transport workers this week and comes after a nationwide general strike Wednesday that paralyzed the country and led to violent protests in Athens. Rail workers at the national railroad company, OSE, are also striking Thursday.
The workers are protesting planned government pay cuts at state-owned enterprises. Greece's parliament on Tuesday passed a controversial omnibus bill that, among other things, foresees capping salaries at troubled state-owned businesses and cuts bonuses and other entitlements.
In May, Greece narrowly avoided default with the help of a €110 billion ($145.43 billion) bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund, in exchange for tough economic changes and a program to cut its budget deficit to below 3% of gross domestic product by 2014.
Next week, parliament will vote on the 2011 Greek government budget which includes further austerity measures, such as spending cuts and tax rises,