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http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/87600 <http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/87600>Workers paralyse Greece as MPs debate big cuts Greek workers have shut down hospitals, schools and public transport again in protest at the government's "socially unjust" spending cuts. Thousands of Communist-affiliated union members rallied peacefully outside parliament, where MPs were debating a new 4.8 billion euros (£4.3bn) austerity package that will ramp up taxes on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes and slash public-sector workers' pay. Protesters chanted: "Greece is not Ireland, the rich must pay for the crisis," in reference to Dublin's regressive austerity programme. All state schools were closed, while hospitals functioned with emergency staff and all Athens public transport was idle. And air traffic controllers' work stoppage cancelled dozens of flights, while journalists also walked off the job for a few hours. GSEE union confederation general secretary Yiannis Panagopoulos said: "We must wage a long and effective struggle - the new measures are one-sided and socially unjust." The national walkout follows hard on the heels of a strike against cuts that brought the country to a standstill for 24 hours on February 24. All Workers Militant Front union spokesman Giorgos Skiadiotis said: "Our protests have to be long-lasting and relentless because the more rights we surrender the more they want to take away from us." Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou insisted that the cuts would appease international speculators and EU officials, enabling Athens to borrow money "under reasonable conditions." Mr Papaconstantinou said: "In emergencies, governments take emergency measures. "Will we have to take further measures? No, provided we implement the programme we have submitted." Greece's Panhellenic Socialist Movement-led government is seeking a total 16bn euros (£14.5bn) in savings this year to reduce a budget deficit of 30bn euros (£27bn) that is over four times the EU limit as a percentage of annual output. Yesterday PM George Papandreou urged EU states to firm up pledges of financial support for his indebted administration. Mr Papandreou held talks in Luxembourg with Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who is head of the group of eurozone finance ministers, before meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. Germany is expected to play a key role in any financial lifeline the EU plans to offer Greece. But prior to yesterday's meeting, Berlin insisted that it would not be about giving aid - and the EU promise of support, first issued last month, remains vague. Mr Papandreou will also discuss the debt crisis with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris tomorrow and he is scheduled to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday. ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
