Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-03-15

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Trade unionists say 'very large turnout' for the strike

[01] Trade unionists say 'very large turnout' for the strike

On its part, the government did not ignore or overlook the everyday problems of Greek citizens, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos stressed on Wednesday, when asked to comment on a 24-hour general strike that had gripped almost the entire country, affecting public transport, hospitals, schools and many state services.

"Knowing the problems, we have looked Greece citizens in the eye and told them how we intend to deal with them," he said regarding the strike's "message" to the government.

"Already, in the past two years (of ND's government) there have been results and, at the end of 2006, the effort will have borne its fruit, which many did not expect. The 'Cassandras' will not be vindicated and the government assures the Greek people that their sacrifices have not been in vain," the spokesman added.

The strike was called by the two largest trade union organisations in the country, the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) representing two million workers and the civil servants' union ADEDY, to seek pay rises and protest about measures seen as undermining labour rights, especially collective agreements.

Trade unionists reported a very large turnout for the strike, which had much higher participation than in past labour action, as well as for two rallies organised in the centre of Athens and other large cities.

In their address to the Pedio tou Areos rally, GSEE President Christos Polyzogopoulos and ADEDY president Spyros Papaspyrou said that workers were sending a clear message to the government and employers.

Polyzogopoulos stressed that workers had reached the end of their tether, while unions had no more tolerance for the policies being followed. Slamming what he called the government's neoliberal policies and a "brutal redistribution of wealth" in favour of the rich, he also warned banks to begin negotiations with the bank workers' union OTOE as soon as possible and the government to change a policy of forcing striking seamen back to work and to solve their problems by the end of March.

The rally, which was large in spite of heavy rain in the morning, was followed by a march, in which many trade union organisations participated, as well as a delegation from main opposition PASOK.

Minor scuffles with riot police at the end of the march in Syntagma were quickly broken up after the intervention of trade unionists led by Polyzogopoulos and Papaspyrou.

A separate rally and march was held earlier by the trade union bloc PAME, affiliated to the Communist Party of Greece. This also included thousands of workers, pensioners and young people that gathered at Syntagma Square at 11:00 and then marched to the U.S. Embassy.

Those venturing out in Athens on Wednesday faced huge traffic jams as most of the city's public transport was either on strike or running reduced services, forcing Athenians to use their cars.

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