A nationwide strike called by public and private sector unions in Greece over the austerity program introduced by the Papandreou Government saw police clash with demonstrators on the sidelines of the rally in Athens.
The second general strike in two weeks saw some 25 000 people march in Athens and 10 000 march in Thessaloniki in support of the general strike.
The country’s two largest trade union groups, the private sector GSEE and the public sector ADEDY, had predicted a substantial turnout among their two million members.
“Today, from all locations in the country, a strong message of unity, struggle and protest is being sent,” the head of the GSEE, Yiannis Panagopoulos said.”Today, Europe’s eyes are turned on us. We ask the government not to give in to the desires of the markets, to set people’s needs as a priority and adopt a mix of economic and social policies that won’t lead to recession but to jobs,” he told the rally.
Some protesters carried signs calling on the authorities to “tax the rich” instead and noted that the strike was also targeting “speculators” after a run against Greek bonds that has sharply pushed up the country’s borrowing costs.
Others marched with banners criticising the “plutocracy”.
“Our people and their needs are above markets and profits,” the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), which represents around a million members, said in its demonstration call.
The ADEDY civil servants union, whose 300,000 members are seen as the main target of the cost-cutting drive, were at the vanguard of the strike action which was also backed by the national journalists’ union.
“There is an all-out war against public servants, those who earn the least,” said Spyros Papaspyros president of ADEDY, the national industrialk body for public-sector workers.
“We will fight to keep the little we have. The government and the EU must understand the crisis must be paid by the rich.”
There have been mixed reactions to the call for the general strike.
Michalis Korileos, a 36-year-old civil servant, said he was striking “because others stole the money and we are the ones who are going to pay”.
“They are cutting my allowances and I have two children to raise, it is difficult.”
However some residents said they saw no reason to strike. “I don’t want to participate,” said Dimitris Makrivellios, 62, a petrol station owner. “Aren’t people also responsible for this situation? Our economy’s problems concern us all. Why should we strike?”
While the march was peaceful scuffles broke out between some demonstrators and police as the rally came to an end.
About 200 protesters threw rocks, bottles and petrol bombs while riot police retaliated by firing tear gas into the crowds.
“A group of youths tried to storm the university building and riot police fired teargas to stop them,” a police official said.
The first joint walkout by the two major labour federations was the biggest test to the government’s resolve since it won the election in October.
The strike coincided with a visit by EU officials assessing whether Greece is on track to cut its spiraling public deficit, which the Papandreou government has pledged to significantly cut back this year.
