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A Greek tragedy?

4 May 2010

Hundreds of thousands of public and private sector workers, young and older took to the streets of Greece on 11 March 2010 for their third and biggest general strike against savage austerity plans. As civil servants in Greece face massive cuts, the young members' newsletter looks at whatÂ’s happening.

Greece’s two union federations called a strike to protest at the additional €4.8 billion package of spending cuts and tax increases announced on 3 March 2010. This was the third austerity package announced since the beginning of this year – totalling around €20 billion. Workers are so angry that over 90% of workplaces were affected.

Public transport was closed down completely. Ordinary people in European countries like Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain are also facing similar attacks, brought about by the collapse of financial markets and irresponsible speculation. A ‘Stability and Growth pact’ penalises countries within the Eurozone running a budget deficit of above 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) or having debts greater than 60% of GDP.

The options are exclusion from the Eurozone or tighten spending – the Greek government wants to cut its budget deficit to 8.7% of GDP by cutting public sector wages by 7%, slashing Christmas and summer bonuses by 30%, freezing all pensions and raising taxes on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes, amongst other things. Protest rallies were called by the GSEE (General Confederation of Greek Workers) union and the civil servants’ union, ADEDY.

Athens saw a huge union demonstration of 80,000 to 100,000, one of the biggest street protests in recent years. The action also hit smaller cities and towns. Society was completely paralysed. It’s unclear what will happen next. Many people are stunned by the level of severity of the cuts programme.

In Britain, the deficit is expected to reach £178billion – or 12.6% of GDP this year. The EU has attacked Britain and warned to tackle ‘uncertainty’ in plans to cut its deficit. Whether you live in Portugal or Portsmouth, it’s tough times. We need a united response, through the trade unions, to challenge the attacks and cuts in our living standards that are inevitably on the cards.

  • Greek public sector workers begun a 48 hour strike Tuesday 4th May 2010. A nationwide general strike will take place on Wednesday 5th May 2010.
  • These strikes are in opposition to mass wage freezes, pension cuts and tax rises to be implemented following a 110bn euro (£95bn) loan from the International Monetary Fund. Measures include cuts of 30bn euros over the next three years,