Greece Paralyzed by Public Sector Strikes Over ‘Parliamentary Coup’
SputnikNews.com
06.05.2016
The largest trade unions in Greece announced a 48 hour strike Friday (May 6) over the decision by the Greek parliament to fast-track a draft bill on pension and tax reforms that is to be voted on over the weekend.
The General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) — the largest trade union body representing 83 unions — and the civil servants’ union federation ADEDY accused the government of a carrying out a “parliamentary coup” by speeding up the controversial legislation, demanded of it as part of the Greek bailout scheme.
“They will not take us by surprise. The government attempts like a criminal to finish the ‘dirty work’ quickly and has decided to bring the bill for a vote in parliament over the weekend,” the strike committee said.
As part of its third bailout agreement with its creditors — the European Commission, the European Central Bank, (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), known collectively as the ‘Troika’ — Greece has been forced to raise taxes, improve tax collection, cut state spending and impose severe changes to its state benefit system, in return for bailout money.
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