>On strike day the Senate was to begin discussion on five-year budget proposal >which has come under harsh criticism by the Intersocial, an alliance of labor >and community organizations. On Dec. 5, a day before the strike, the >Intersocial organized a huge march "for the unity of the social organizations, >against unemployment, and for a fair budget." The march and strike are part of >a broad mobilization organized by the Intersocial and scheduled to continue >over the following two weeks. A day after the general strike, on Dec. 7, >Uruguay's air traffic controllers staged their own 24-hour sitdown strike, >bringing all international flights to a halt. Association of Air Transit >Controllers (ACTA) is planning other measures beginning Dec. 15, including a >work slowdown that will delay flights. > > > > > >Greek Strike Against Labour Reforms > > > >Greek urban and sea transport ground to a halt on 21 December and air and rail >schedules were cut back to minimum as transport workers and civil servants >walked out to protest against labour reforms. Thousands of protesting workers >marched through Athens to parliament, where a controversial labour law was >being debated, shouting anti-government slogans. > > > >The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), Greece's largest labour >grouping, and its public sector sister organisation staged the 24-hour action, >which also affected ministries, banks and the press. The law being considered >by Parliament this week includes reforms such as easier group dismissals by >corporations and flexible working hours, and falls short of satisfying labour >demands for a 35-hour week without a reduction in pay. Labour unions are also >pressing for retirement after 35 years of work, instead of at 65 years of age >currently. The socialist government has a majority in Parliament and is sure >to pass the bill, which it says aims at modernising the Greek labour market >and boosting employment. _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for geopolitics. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
