Newsletter No. 28
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2005
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Greece: 24-hour general strike against longer-hour laws The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) will hold a 14 December 24-hour general strike to express its opposition to the conservative Karamanlis government for passing a law for more flexible work-hours and reduced costs of overtime. This follows a national strike on 26 July, on the eve of the law’s passage, an earlier GSEE general strike and other stoppages causing widespread disruption. This included a nationwide 24-hour strike by const-ruction workers in June for improved wages and pensions, the right to retire at age 55 and the adoption of a 7-hour workday and 5-day workweek ( Unions in both public and private sectors have stepped up action since the laws were passed, not only to oppose the new law but to call for a 35 hour week. They are making it difficult for the conservatives to govern, alarming those investors who were cheering for the reforms. Unions say abolition of the 8-hour work day results in a ‘vicious redistribution’ of income, by reducing overtime costs in favour of profits & creating more unemployment and poverty ( ‘GSEE strike at heart of labor reforms’ 20.7.05). Greece already has among the longest hours and highest unemployment rates in the European Union Business reckons it ‘improves cost competitiveness and lifts impediments in creating employment’ (‘Workers worry as Greece goes for flexible labour’ Reuters 30.8.05) |