Greek Unions Stage Strike Against Austerity

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-15/greek-unions-stage-24-hour-strike-to-oppose-papandreou-s-cuts-asset-sales.html

Greece’s ports, banks, hospitals and state-run companies ground to a halt today as the two biggest unions went on strike to oppose Prime Minister George Papandreou’s additional budget cuts and asset sales.

ADEDY, the largest public-sector union, and the General Confederation of Labor, or GSEE, the biggest private-sector union, called the third general strike of the year to protest the government’s five-year fiscal plan and program of state asset sales. The two unions’ marches joined up with protesters camped out in front of the parliament for nearly three weeks. Police estimated attendance at around 20,000 people.

The gathering complicates Papandreou’s plans to get the 78 billion-euro ($113 billion) package passed in parliament this month. Apart from Greeks, the prime minister is facing growing dissent within his Socialist Pasok party. One Pasok lawmaker said yesterday he won’t vote for the bill and a second withdrew from the party, the To Vima newspaper reported in separate articles. Papandreou now has a five-seat majority in the 300- member assembly.

The Wall Street Journal said so, before asking for another bank bailout. :sarcasm:

The Greeks are giving me hope today.