Greek Unions Strike Over Government Austerity Measures

Ship and train workers in Greece staged strikes on Sunday, May Day, causing a cancellation of ferries and trains.

Thousands of workers from various labor unions marched to demonstrate their opposition to government austerity measures. 

Workers from the main private and public trade unions and other affiliated unions, marched on parliament calling for the government to put an end to measures that have affected wages and jobs in the country since their introduction in March last year.  

The government is struggling to reduce its large deficit and debt which forced it to take a rescue loan from the European Union and IMF in May 2010. 

One year later the measures taken have included wage reductions and layoffs, primarily in the public service, and future measures include more downsizing and extending working hours in the civil service.  

[Kaliope Voudouroglou, Protester]: 

"They are trying to tell us that we should pay for this crisis. Well no! As every day goes by workers are realizing that they don't owe a single euro because this is not their crisis."

[Laton Karadas, Protester and Lawyer]: 

"The final battle has not been won, we won some fights but the battle has not  been won, as now with these measures they are imposing on us, we are losing the rights we have won throughout all these years."  

Athens main train station was closed, as the government is planning to privatize the railways as part of the reforms and is already transferring employees to other public service jobs. 

Ship crew workers, who have experienced job and wage cuts, caused the ferry boats travelling to the islands to remain in the main port of Piraeus. 

In a statement to mark May Day, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said there were no magic recipes to solving the debt crisis but that the measures were the only solution to secure a better future for Greeks.

A nationwide strike by labor unions is planned for May 11, the same time that the EU and IMF inspectors will be in Athens to review Greece's latest progress.