Athens - Greece was under a 24-hour news blackout as
journalists launched work stoppages Tuesday as part of a wave of
anti-government rallies against social security reforms.
The strike, which is to also include a march in downtown Athens,
is to disrupt newspaper production, radio and television news
broadcasts and internet news sites across the country.
Journalists are opposed to government plans to merge their pension
fund with those of other professions.
The powerful journalist union said it would also join doctors,
nurses, bank workers, teachers, transportation workers and civil
servants in a nationwide general strike on December 12 in a clear
sign to the conservative government of worker dissatisfaction.
Thousands of schoolteachers marched through the Greek capital
Monday, calling on the government, which was re-elected only two
months ago, to increase funding for the public school system and
shelve planned reforms, which they said would raise retirement ages
while cutting benefits to millions of future retirees.
Unions are also protesting plans to merge about 150 pension funds
into fewer than 10 and raise monthly contributions.
The strikes followed last week's presentation of the 2008 budget
to parliament. It foresees controlled public spending, a further
lowering of the deficit and higher taxes.
The conservative government under the leadership of Prime Minister
Costas Karamanlis is under pressure to reform the country's ailing
pension system, which runs the risk of going bankrupt in 20 years
because of an ageing population and low birth rate.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
USA
Your Talkback on this Story